The popular cricket website Cricinfo, read by millions around the globe, has again attacked the Island's national team following the conclusion over the weekend of the World Cup Qualifiers in South Africa, labelling "Bermuda the only blight" on the tournament.

Bermuda's team failed to reach the Super Eight stage, winning just one of their group games, against Denmark.

They then chalked up convincing wins over Oman and Uganda, thanks mainly to two unbeaten centuries by David Hemp, another ton from Stephen Outerbridge as well as the efforts of spin bowler Rodney Trott.

But by that time they had already lost the chance to compete in the next World Cup, lost One-Day International status and are almost certainly to be denied an opportunity to play in the Intercontinental Cup.

Two more spots are open for the Intercontinental Cup with Namibia and United Arab Emirates likely to be chosen by the International Cricket Council over Bermuda and Uganda.

Cricinfo assitant editor Will Luke who, along with executive editor Martin Williamson, lashed the players for their performance on and off the field during the tournament, has now heaped on more criticism.

Assessing all of the teams, awarding points out of ten, he gave eventual winners Ireland an 'eight'. But Bermuda, he said, were worth just one.

"Biggest surprise? Bermuda – that they won any matches," he wrote.

"Best coach – Gus Logie for his honesty. Best player – David Hemp for topping the averages.

"The future is deservedly dismal and they urgently need to re-think their approach to grassroots cricket if they are to ever compete on the world stage again. Where has all the money gone? Why would they rather play domestic cricket than internationals? More questions than answers.

"In one sentence: An eye-sore for the ICC who can now concentrate on another Associate nation who actually want to progress."

As of champions Ireland, he said: "Best players – William Porterfield and Eoin Morgan. And Phil Simmons's aura as coach.

"The future is bright, the future's green. Good young players and a solid development programme, allied to greater financial investment, equals a promising outlook. But still their best players will be pick-pocketed by England.

"In one sentence. Not at their best, yet were still the envy of opposing coaches."

As for surpise package Afghanistan, who beat Bermuda in the group stage, Luke said: "The future is tricky to determine but tremendously exciting. The extra funding will transform their lives, as long as it falls into the right hands . . .

"The most enjoyable Affiliate nation to watch for years, a side simmering with talent and belief, but they cannot afford to rest on their admittedly humble laurels – particularly playing four-day cricket in the ICC Intercontinental Cup."

In a separate article providing an overview of the entire tournament, Luke again picked on Logie's charges: "With the favourites Ireland reaching and winning the final, it appears that the whole show went to form, and statistically that is true. Of the top six Associates, only Bermuda lost their ODI status, but we'll come to that particular miserable tale later.

". . . the majority of these players remain amateurs, forsaking careers and families for national pride or simply their own love of the sport. Even Ireland – the envy of opposing coaches with their increasing professionalism – had their difficulties

". . . From the good, to Bermuda, whose performance was less a disappointment, more a depressingly predictable blight of underachievement.

"Poor David Hemp topped the overall averages with 557 runs at 185.66, batting and fielding with the professionalism and self-pride you would expect. With nobody for support, Hemp resembled a man with a bilge pump on a sinking ship while his crew had taken the lifeboats and champagne and were sailing to calmer waters.

"Gus Logie's attack on the players' lack of motivation and focus angered the players, some of whom would rather turn their arm over, gently, in domestic cricket than represent their country.

"Three opposing players told Cricinfo that their demotion was both unsurprising and deserved. For now, they are out of the limelight. That alone might be sufficient inspiration to breed a new, ambitious Bermuda. Just don't hold your breath.

"Bermuda's tribulations serve as a reminder to other nations and the ICC. With funding comes responsibility. In that respect, ICC is much like the managing director of a business. It is as keen to help these nations – apprentices, if you like – as they are themselves, and will spoon-feed them money, equipment, and create a structure upon which they will hopefully build. It can't, however, breast feed them forever. The weaning process has to happen at some point."

He noted how other nations would continue to improve with ICC funding, pointing to the UAE – "entirely amateur yet are screaming with raw ability (their opening bowler, Amjad Javed, smashed 164). Were cricket to be their full-time career, with a proper managerial board in place, UAE and other countries would improve out of sight.

"There is no overnight solution, however; look what US$11 million of investment by Bermuda's government has had on the sport in their country."