Western Stars duo Arnold Manders and Jermaine Postlethwaite, veteran Willow Cuts player Dexter Basden and St.David's controversial player/coach Clay Smith are all due to appear before a Bermuda Cricket Board disciplinary committee tonight to face charges of bringing the game into disrepute.

Apart from Smith, who has been summoned before the Board for his decision pull the Islanders out of their opening game of the season against Stars in protest of suspended fast bowler Mackie Crane, the players will be asked to explain comments made to The Royal Gazette on matters which affected their respective clubs.

Postlethwaite and Manders publicly spoke out over the mysterious whereabouts of the Combined KO Cup which Stars only received last Saturday - some 11 months after winning the inaugural final - while Manders slammed the Board's present bonus points system which has come in for heavy criticism lately.

Basden, meanwhile, complained that his club hadn't been properly notified of changes made to the former Camel Cup competition (Belco Cup).

Cuts and PHC, along with other affiliates, were previously led to believe that the two then First Division clubs would join the the top four teams from the Premier Division in this year's Belco Cup series after clubs all reportedly voted in favour of the changes at the Board's 2002 AGM.

Board officials, however, have repeatedly denied claims that a vote took place at last year's AGM which was held at Warwick Workmen's Club.

Last year, Somerset all-rounder Wendell White was slapped with a four game suspension for talking to The Gazette and never had an appeal against the imposed ban heard.

St.George's batsman Sinclair Gibbons was also slapped with a one-year ban for bringing the game into disrepute during a match at Wellington Oval between his club and neighbours St.David's last summer. Gibbons and the Islanders' Phillip Pitcher became involved in a brief skirmish after the latter was dismissed. Pitcher escaped any punishment.

Gibbons later publicly slammed the Board, calling them a "kangaroo court" and a bunch of "educated fools". However, despite that public outburst, Gibbons had an appeal against the ban upheld and his punishment reduced to six months. The player has since rejoined his club on the pitch.

The BCB themselves have come under fire recently after allegations of "unconstitutional" amendments made to Board policy surfaced nearly two weeks ago. The Board, thus far, have played down the accusations but have failed to offer any explanation.

In the wake of the allegations, affiliate clubs met at a special meeting on Monday night at Devonshire Recreation Club to discuss the attack on the governing body.

And while there was no specific conclusion reached at Monday's meeting, there were signs that something would emerge later that would have a significant impact on the current administration. The clubs are due to meet again this evening.