Cricket Board of Control is looming just three weeks before the official start of the season on May 2.

At a recent meeting the BCUA slammed the sport's governing body after they offered an amnesty to suspended cricketers last December. That unprecedented move, said the BCUA, was a "slap in the face'' for umpires.

While nobody from the umpires association was willing to go on record this week, one source said the Board's decision to lift all bans was not popular and had prompted a "few officials'' to quit umpiring altogether.

If this is the case, then it would mean that an already severe shortage of umpires could develop into a crisis on the eve of the new season.

"If the season was to start this weekend we would have no more than 12 umpires willing to officiate, and even that is an optimistic number,'' said the source.

"We go through the bother of writing up players, then we are treated like the offenders at the hearings and then we see that the bans are lifted after reading the newspapers. It's just turning our members off, too many are now saying enough is enough.'' While the umpires were pleased to be invited to talk with the Board -- a meeting designed to sort out differences that existed between the two bodies and to help improve existing procedures -- discussion on the amnesty proved to be one of the hot topics.

At the time of the amnesty, BCBC president El James said the move was a "goodwill gesture'' as a result of the pride that was sweeping the Island since the PLP's General Election victory in November. James has scoffed at suggestions by the umpires that the season could be placed in jeopardy as a result of the lifting of the bans.

"I don't think our differences are of any significance and I am certain that we can work together to ensure that the forthcoming cricket season is one of our best,'' said James.

"It's no secret that the umpires need to boost their numbers and we are encouraging ex-players to come out and get involved. We would love to see anybody come and give a hand.'' Reluctant to get involved in a dispute, James said that one new thing that they agreed on was the introduction of a code of conduct.

"We both agree to abide by it, we have sent it out to all of the clubs and we want to see positive reaction from the players. Cursing on the field of play of any kind will be viewed as negative behaviour and we have stressed that to the clubs. We want them to ensure that it is communicated to the players that we will not be tolerating profanity of any kind this season.''