on officiating cricket matches.

Bermuda Cricket Umpires Association chief Lester Harnett said some members had "behaved disgracefully'' in a row over which of them were chosen as candidates to be Bermuda's umpiring representative in the upcoming ICC Trophy tournament in Canada.

"I am very disgruntled at the behaviour of some of our umpires,'' said Harnett. "I think the attitude and the performance they have put down has been disgraceful.

"I want to make an appeal to my association and other interested parties that we need to stop the infighting and the bickering and get back to the job we were trained to do, with dignity and respect.

"On every occasion that someone is appointed to go overseas, there is always infighting within our ranks. The performance of some of our folks could deter new folks from joining our ranks.'' Former BCUA president Wilbur Pitcher this week criticised the association's shortlist of five recommended umpires for the tournament, which starts next month in Toronto.

The shortlist, which included Harnett, as well as Roger Dill, Steven Douglas, Randy Butler and George Francis, has been submitted to the Bermuda Cricket Board of Control.

Pitcher's objections were based on the claim that three of the five -- Harnett, Dill and Douglas -- were not fully qualified.

"How can you put them over qualified people like Dennis Raynor, myself and Mahdee Shabbaz who have all been qualified for a long time?'' Pitcher said to The Royal Gazette this week.

And he added that he was considering whether or not to continue officiating this season for the BCUA, who are already struggling through a lack of numbers.

Harnett said Pitcher had previously asked not to be considered and had said he was ready to quit.

"In a meeting I chaired last September, Mr Pitcher said that, as of that moment, we should not forward his name any more for officiating overseas,'' said Harnett.

"Three weeks ago, Mr Pitcher said in a meeting he was through officiating, as was Mr Shabbaz. This is indeed the reason their names were not forwarded for selection this time around.

"Over the years, there have been only two people who have wanted to do these games (overseas). For me personally, it does not matter, because if I am at home officiating, that is an honour in itself.'' Harnett also rebutted claims that he was not fully qualified.

"That is incorrect,'' said the president. "I was informed in 1994 that I had been successful in all aspects of the West Indies Cricket Umpires Association test.

"I am the longest-serving member of this organisation to date, with 27 years of officiating. Last Saturday's Camel Cup semi-final was the 900th match I have officiated.'' Harnett pleaded for umpires to behave better and thus earn the respect of the BCBC and players.

"We are responsible for the adjudication of the laws of cricket and the rules in play and outside play,'' said Harnett.

"We should be more upstanding on the field of play and show more respect to the players and in turn, they should do likewise to us. And we should respect our local governing body more than we do. We have had regular dialogue with them and they have always worked well with us.''