Veteran star batsman Charlie Marshall has been booted off Bermuda's ICC Trophy squad.

Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) officials yesterday revealed the 44-year-old was being expelled from the 14-member unit for disciplinary reasons while strike bowler Kevin Hurdle has also been ruled out because of an injury to his left hamstring.

As a result of these two developments, St. David's opener Chris Foggo and Somerset allrounder Wendell White have been summoned to national duty as replacements for Marshall and Hurdle respectively less than a week before the team's departure for the crucial 2007 Cricket World Cup qualifier in Ireland.

“These changes are subject to the ICC Trophy Technical Committee's approval. Any changes after May 31 have to be approved by them so we have written to them but we hope that would be perfunctory,” stressed BCB chief executive Neil Speight last night.

The frank-speaking Marshall has been dumped following a report from national coach Gus Logie on a training-ground quarrel between Marshall and national skipper Clay Smith last Thursday.

While the formal report centred on this particular incident both Logie and Speight noted other issues involving Marshall were also taken into account.

“The national coach filed a report on the behaviour of Charles Marshall to the selectors and the selection panel were unanimous with their recommendation that Charlie be removed from the squad on disciplinary grounds.

“This is due to consistent, disturbing, disruptive behaviour,” stated Speight.

Contacted by The Royal Gazette during a brief trip to his homeland Trinidad, Logie explained that he was on the playing field when “a spat” occurred between Marshall and Smith near the boundary. Marshall then left training abruptly “in a very disgruntled state of mind”.

“I spoke to him the next day and he apologised to me personally and I said to him that a report has to be made because it's not the first time (such) situations have arisen and it's really and truly something I wasn't pleased with, especially at this stage of our preparation,” continued the coach.

He added that when he sought an explanation about the incident from Smith, the latter said it resulted from his querying Marshall's repeated absence from training.

Logie stressed that ultimately Marshall's removal from the Ireland mission was a collective decision by selectors some of whom also had “information from Mr. Marshall”.

“At the end of the day we have to move forward. My focus is what's best for the team and at this point in time it's to make sure everybody is in harmony with each other, working towards a particular goal. It's not about the individual,” declared Logie.

The former West Indies player acknowledged the veteran's expulsion would be “a blow to the team” but reiterated that “no one player is greater than the team”.

“We want people to conform to the team norms and ideals and if people are not willing to do that obviously they will have to face the consequences. Every action has a reaction. At the end of the day this may not be what we would want but, obviously, discipline must reign.”

Regarding Hurdle - who pulled up clutching his left hamstring on May 15 while competing for Social Club against Cleveland - the coach termed it “a great loss”.

“He is one of the fitter guys on the team. He is young and he has been bowling pretty well and he has worked hard.

“One can empathise with his situation. We trust that the replacements will be adequate and that they will acquit themselves well. It's an opportunity for them to come in and establish themselves and we're looking forward to them doing justice to their call-up at this time,” said Logie.

Speight said both of the selection panel's recommendations were subsequently accepted by the BCB executive.

In a brief statement, BCB president Reggie Pearman said: “We are very saddened for Kevin to have to miss out at this late stage. He is a talented, hardworking and diligent performer in the squad and it's unfortunate that he has suffered this injury.

“I'm also disappointed that the experience and talent of Charlie Marshall will not be available as we compete in the upcoming ICC Trophy.

“However, I am confident in both the depth and balance of the team and that the talents of the replacements Wendell White and Chris Foggo are more than enough to ensure Bermuda's team will be as strong as ever.”