Bermudian cricket fans have "run out'' of patience with the struggling West Indies team and forced the dismissal of a Barbados-bound charter flight.

Meyer Travel, which runs two charters to Barbados every year for West Indies Test matches, has hit one of its trips for six.

Regular fans of the West Indies have become so disillusioned with their losing team that they are deserting the tours in droves.

The West Indies, only recently the kings of world cricket, are now battling to compete, being whitewashed 5-0 in a Test series in South Africa and already 5-1 down in a one-day international series against the same team.

Meyer President Henry Hayward told The Royal Gazette just 40 people signed up for the second charter to Barbados, which also included a trip to Antigua.

The West Indies are lining up to play Australia -- arguably the best team in the world -- in what would normally be an ultra-glamorous occasion.

But the 40 fans who were disappointed have now been placed on scheduled airlines to Barbados via the US.

Mr. Hayward said: "Our other charter to Barbados is still going ahead as usual and that is full with about 160 people on board.

"But unfortunately we had to put the other 40 people on American Airlines flights because of lack of demand.

"It's basically a lack of support we are experiencing. We've never been through this in the past because the support has always been there.

"But unfortunately I'm not a big cricket fan so if it is because the West Indies are losing games, it's not really for me to say.'' Bermuda Cricket Board of Control President El James said he was still considering making the trip to Barbados.

But he added: "Bermudians like to see good cricket. They like to see good competition.

"And at this point, a lot of folk are upset at the West Indies performances in South Africa.'' "That's the reason many people have cancelled. The true cricket die-hards are worried. Those going for the atmosphere, the fun and the trip will still go down.'' Lawyer Ed Bailey, West Indies fan and President of the BCBC for 14 years, said: "I'm hardly surprised that one trip has been cancelled.

"I know a lot of people have been discouraged from travelling to the West Indies and that's a direct result of their resentment that the West Indies don't appear to have been trying in games.

"People in Bermuda take their cricket very seriously, just like people in the Caribbean and in South Africa.

"They want to go and watch the West Indies in high spirits. So I think it's natural that the interest has dwindled.'' Mr. Bailey, a former member of the International Cricket Council, made annual trips to West Indies tests in Barbados in an official capacity.

He added: "I knew the players and the officials of the West Indies Board, so I have an affinity with them. I lean towards them.

"I haven't been there for the last two years because of business commitments.

"But I do follow the team and I know they have been guilty of poor performances and embarrassing results. And I would anticipate that even the gates at the matches throughout the Caribbean will be well down.'' The Meyer charter, which cost $755 a head, runs from March 24 to April 1.