Bermuda all-rounder Lionel Cann and Dutch counterpart Edgar Schiferli were both put on probation by the ICC for the next 12 months yesterday for their part in a verbal spat during the Island's Intercontinental Cup clash with the Netherlands in Amstelveen earlier this week.

The pair were summoned to a special hearing held yesterday at Bermuda's hotel in Amsterdam where they had the opportunity to give their side of the story before having sanctions imposed upon them. The incident that led to yesterday's proceedings occurred in the 29th over of Bermuda's second innings when Schiferli allegedly made an inflammatory remark that prompted a verbal retaliation from batsman Cann.

Both players have now been cleared to play in tomorrow's first ODI between the two countries in Rotterdam having escaped with what amounts to a slap on the wrist.

"In a nutshell, the final verdict is that Lionel (Cann) has been found to have committed a Level One offence according to ICC regulations which in effect means that he will have to be on his best behavior for the next 12 months," Bermuda team manager Lionel Thomas confirmed.

"Apparently, and this has been established, the player (Schiferli) verbally abused Lionel but the umpires and match referee did not approve of his (Cann's) reactions.

"The best thing he (Cann) should've have done was to report the incident to the umpires right away and then he would not have been in any trouble. But once you react it's against the code (ICC).

"But we (team officials) and Lionel himself have accepted that he did react and he has apologised for his actions. And I think a reprimand in the end is fair punishment and don't anticipate any further action being taken against the player at this particular point in time."