Bermuda's ICC woes were not limited to on-field inadequacies during the recent trip to Malaysia.

In addition to drug possession allegations (see Page 1 , details of other major problems -- some alarming -- have begun to unfold. Until yesterday the incidents had been kept quiet by Bermuda Cricket Board of Control officials and tour players. But stories of dissent, disagreement and confrontation between members of the tour party have now emerged.

Bermuda were eliminated from the World Cup qualifying tournament at the preliminary stage after shock defeats to Hong Kong and Scotland, although they went on to lift the Consolation Plate.

However, before that final victory, it's alleged that medium pace bowler Corey Hill came perilously close to being sent home after a major outburst while veteran all-rounder Charlie Marshall was involved in a dust-up with national coach Allan Douglas.

The off-field controversies, which reportedly also included curfew-breaking disputes, have been confirmed privately by team members who have asked that their names be withheld in fear of reprisals from the BCBC.

Hill, yesterday, was reluctant to comment but did concede that there was a dispute involving himself, skipper Albert Steede and Douglas. "I did have an argument with them and all I can say now is that I will never play in a team captained by Albert again,'' said Hill. "That's all I can say right now.'' When asked about the incidents in Malaysia, Douglas said the executive committee would look at his report and react accordingly, but he declined to comment further.

However, it's understood that the coach himself was directly involved in the dust-up with Hill, one that saw disciplinary action taken against the player after he allegedly hurled abusive language at team officials in the presence of other players.

Also witnessing that incident was the team's Australian consultant, legendary Test skipper and opening batsman Bobby Simpson who condemned the player's outburst and backed a decision to send Hill home.

But that decision was reportedly overruled when BCBC president Ed Bailey arrived on the scene and expressed fears of the bad publicity at home as a result of disciplinary action. Marshall, meanwhile, reportedly voiced his concern angrily over being involved with a group of players he claimed were not nearly as talented as the previous ICC Trophy squads with whom he had toured.

Marshall's Bailey's Bay team-mate, Noel Gibbons, before flying out to England this week on a whirlwind cricket tour with former Test players, told The Royal Gazette he had learned of a number of conroversial incidents in Malaysia since the players returned.

Having represented Bermuda in each of the previous five ICC tournaments, he said it was his impression that the latest tour had endured more problems than any before it.

Still upset at having been overlooked by selectors, Gibbons said that while he would have been a proud campaigner for his country in Malaysia he was now looking ahead to his future which obviously did not lie in Bermuda at a national level. "I'm looking forward to this long trip I am about to go on.

Thank God I will not have to worry about any letdowns by our system here,'' added Gibbons.

Gibbons was recently named vice-captain to former West Indies Test player Alvin Kallicharran of a World Select which will tour Sri Lanka, India, New Zealand and possibly Australia. Gibbons made similar tours with the team to Pakistan and India in 1994 and to Singapore in 1995.