Delyone Borden refused to take part in Bermuda's second match on tour of Grenada last week in protest over an ongoing pay dispute involving Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) and his employers.

The Department of Works and Engineering worker is among those who signed a short-term contract with the Board who are responsible for compensating senior national squad players for time off work now being devouted to Bermuda's preparations for next month's World Cup qualifiers in South Africa.

However, it is understood the burly all-rounder, who took six wickets on the recently concluded tour of the Caribbean, has not been paid in several weeks and on the eve of the match against Grenada's national team took matters into his own hands and made it clear he would not play.

He also did not participate in Bermuda's final match in Grenada last Friday although the reasons why remained unclear at press time last night.

The squad returned from the Caribbean on Saturday.

Borden could not be contacted for comment yesterday, although the players' contracts stipulates they cannot talk to the media without the BCB's permission.

When pressed on the matter yesterday, BCB president Reggie Pearman said: "It's Sunday and I don't need to be talking to the press on a Sunday" before abruptly hanging up the phone.

It now remains to be seen what, if any, course of action the BCB will take over Borden's protest which could jeopardise his chances of being included in Bermuda's 15-member World Cup qualifying squad that will be announced at a Board press conference on Wednesday.

Already competition among the spinners is fierce with both Rodney Trott and Tamauri Tucker impressing on tour and veteran Dwayne (Sluggo) Leverock an almost certainty to be picked.

While in the Caribbean, the St. David's Islander starred with the bat and ball to guide Bermuda to a three-wicket win over Trinidadian Premier Division One-Day champions Connection Wanderers, claiming two for 21 with his off-breaks and then sharing in an unbroken eighth-wicket partnership with Jacobi Robinson to see the visitors safely home.

Borden, however, did not play in any of Bermuda's matches in St.Lucia last month after picking up a foot injury in training shortly after his heroics against Connection Wanderers.

After last Friday's match, Bermuda coach Gus Logie urged his players to "work on their attitudes" following their successful tour of the West Indies where they compiled an impressive 9-2 record.

"We still need to work on our attitudes and not only attitudes in terms of the game, but also our attitudes towards each other," he said.

"We are still a long way away from getting that cohesiveness we would like to see."

Bermuda are scheduled to depart for Pretoria, South Africa on March 14 for final World Cup qualifying preparations before taking on Namibia in a warm-up match on the eve of the 12-country tournament that will see the top four ICC Associates qualifying for the 2011 World Cup on the sub continent.

The Islanders have been pitted alongside with 2003 World Cup semi-finalists Kenya, the Netherlands, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Denmark and ICC Affiliates Afghanistan in Group B.

The top four teams from the group stage will progress to the Super Eight stage that will also determine which six countries will be granted ODI status, 2009-10 Intercontiental Cup qualification and relegation to the ICC World Cricket League Division Three.