following Sunday's boycott by umpires.

In fact, the sport's governing body believe they followed the correct procedure in attempting to solve their dispute with Bermuda Cricket Umpires Association and despite problems encountered by the officials' "sick-out'' have not scheduled a special or emergency meeting.

The two parties are at loggerheads over the BCBC's recent decision to throw out a disciplinary case which umpires had filed against Willow Cuts. The umpires involved failed to show for the disciplinary hearing.

Reginald Pearman, chairman of the BCBC committee responsible for umpires, said yesterday the Board's executive committee would be meeting tonight and the matter would likely be added to the agenda.

"But we had a meeting with the umpires for Wednesday previously scheduled,'' said Pearman. "Whether it now comes off or not we will decide tomorrow.

"We met with the umpires last Thursday and nothing more was said then, so everybody left and we were looking forward to the next meeting. Then I read what they may do in The Royal Gazette on Saturday like everybody else.

"All I can say is that cricket went on as scheduled and the game will always go on. I hope that the clubs will stick with the Board so that we can get this thing resolved one way or the other.'' Pearman's remarks indicated that the BCBC were both surprised and upset by the action taken by umpires, especially since officials didn't give the governing body any indication of their intentions at last week's meeting.

No BCUA official has been willing to discuss the boycott. Association secretary Stephen Douglas, the only umpire who showed up for his game on Sunday, slammed down the telephone when contacted by The Royal Gazette .

Douglas is expected to come under fire from his colleagues for failing to support their action.