Young Men's Social Club (YMSC) have submitted a written complaint to Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) over umpire Steven Douglas' conduct in the middle during a Premier Division limited overs match at White Hill Field.

The Bermuda Cricket Umpires Association (BCUA) vice-president and ICC Americas Region Elite Panel umpire is alleged to have brought the rain-shortened match involving Social Club and Pembroke Hamilton Club (PHC) last month into disrepute by making an obscene gesture with his middle finger towards a spectator as well as halting play several times to respond to calls on his cell phone.

In a letter sent to the BCB, PHC and Social Club, Douglas apologised for the manner in which he reacted to a fan's retort and explained his reasons for carryng a cell phone onto the field of play.

"My reaction to a spectator's retort fell short of the disciplined response usually associated with an umpire of my standing," Douglas wrote.

"For my actions on June 27, 2009, I sincerely apologise to the players and officials of PHC and YMSC, the spectators who were present, my BCUA colleagues and to the officials of the BCB.

"My use of a cell phone during play was in response to urgent demands for my on-call services as a Digicel technician and not of a personal nature.

"Admittedly, this did not look good to players and spectators and is no way reflective of the professional standards normally asociated with members of the Bermuda Cricket Umpires Association, myself included.

"I remain committed to the cause of umpiring and will continue to work with clubs and the BCB towards the betterment of local cricket."

Social Club have also appealed for maximum points (three) from the June 27 clash which did not constitute a match as the two-time defending league champs did not face the minimum amount of overs (20) reqired replying to PHC's formidable 233 for nine.

Heavy late afternoon showers forced the players off the field for good with Social Club having faced 17 overs – just three shy of the minimum required to constitute a match.

At the time play was halted Social Club were poised at 100 for three and were well ahead on run rate.

"We submitted a written complaint about umpire Steven Douglas stopping the game about five times to talk on the phone," Social Club player/coach Charlie Marshall claimed.

"He took the ball and stopped the game because of work related matters but I don't think it is appropriate for an umpire to have a phone on the field.

"The players can't do it so why is he doing it?

"I think action should be taken concerning the points because we were pushing really hard to get the 20 overs in and were way ahead on run rate.

"We are appealing because we felt we were robbed of getting the necessary 20 overs in.

"We would have won the match but this man (Douglas) was on the phone five different times which was ludicrous and crazy.

"I think it's crazy for a person to have a phone on them in a cricket match and stopping the game.

"By him (Douglas) being on the phone cost us 20 minutes which was ample time to get in the minimum amount of overs."

Marshall, who has had his own share of disciplinary run-ins in the past, also condemned the obscene gesture Douglas is alleged to have made towards a fan on the boundary.

"He put his middle finger up which I certainly thought was inappropriate," the veteran St.George's Cup Match batsman added.

"These guys (umpires) expect us players to act properly while they are doing a pack of ignorance thesmelves."