While mystery still surrounds the makeup of Mark Harper's Bermuda Cricket Board of Control developmental team, according to former Willow Cuts' skipper Dexter Basden plans to have youngsters from various clubs make up the nucleus of the Under-21 youth team would be detrimental to teams in the First Division.

"We have a few youngsters in our team but they have to stick with us," said Basden. "They are our future. We can't afford for them to go in the Under-21 team - that would cut us short.

"If you had a lot of youngsters that can't make these First Division sides, then fine and dandy, I could agree with them playing with the Under-21 team.

"But a lot of them are playing for their clubs. Look at Social Club, they can't afford to lose their youngsters, that would put a strain on their programme."

In addition, Basden also claimed that Harper's plan contradicted the whole concept of having a second tier.

"That's the whole purpose of having the First Division, so the younger guys can develop their skills for senior play," he added.

"We need these guys that are 18, 19 and 20 years old.

"What happens is that when these younger guys are playing with senior players it helps their cricket because they are all excited to be playing with someone that maybe has played Cup Match or played at the senior national level.

"For example, if they see me take a good catch or make runs at the crease then they will strive to emulate what I'm doing."

Furthermore, the veteran also recalled when he was a youngster trying to breakthrough the ranks at Willow Cuts.

"When I was a youngster playing with guys like Rodney (Fubler), Skeets (Charles Fubler) and Bernard Brangman I just loved to train with them and it rubbed off on me.

"It's almost like your company. If you hang around bad people then it rubs off on you, but if you have good cricket players in your team that have been to the top thean it rubs off in a positive way. Our youngsters are vital to our programme."

Meanwhile, BCBC president Reggie Pearman said yesterdaythat he was optimistic that plans to have the Island's youngsters make up the Under-21 team would get off the ground.

"Hopefully we don't have to scrap it," said Pearman. "But we are still working on it."

The BCBC developmental team is scheduled to play Somerset Cricket Club this Saturday at Somerset in the Combined Knockout Cup Competition.