Southampton Rangers opening bat Dion Stovell could become the latest Bermudian cricketer to play professionally in Scotland behind the likes of Alma (Champ) Hunt, Clarence Parfitt, Lionel Cann, Del Hollis and Treadwell Gibbons Jr.

Stovell is among a short list of local Under 23 cricketers that have been invited to play among the Strathmore Union League in Scotland this summer.

However the temperamental yet gifted batsman ? who threatened to quit the sport late last year ? has yet to make a final decision.

?I don?t know if I?m going to play any cricket,? said Stovell, who recently won the First Division league and Shield double with Paget. ?I have been asked but at the moment I?m not sure if I?m going to play any cricket this summer.?

When asked would such an opportunity prompt him to reconsider a decision to quit, Stovell replied: ?I don?t know.?

Should the 21-year-old cricketer decide to pursue a cricket career in Scotland, he will first have to apply for an official leave of absence from the Bermuda Regiment where he is currently serving the second of a three-year stint.

?He does have the option of submitting an application to be excused or pardoned for a period of time,? a regimental colour sergeant told .

It is understood North Village ?keeper Zane Hendrickson went through the same channels to be excused to play in the Canadian Professional League in the summer of 2004.

During the 2003 Under 19 Americas Championships in Toronto, Stovell became the tournament?s highest individual scorer when he blasted an unbeaten 202 opening the innings for Bermuda, a record that still stands today.

Stovell sat out the bulk of last season through a Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) ? imposed ban for disciplinary reasons.

Speaking from Scotland yesterday, Arbroath Cricket Club executive Clarence Parfitt stated: ?There are a few clubs in the Strathmore League that are looking for players and I think it would be a good opportunity for any young Bermudian cricketer to come over to play, especially with the way we are now going.

?We now have to learn and the only way to do so is to get our young players out of Bermuda. Playing in Bermuda is fine, but they are not going to make it by playing cricket solely in Bermuda.?

Arbroath currently have two teams registered in the Strathmore League, a tier below the First Division.

Offering international exposure to our young cricketers, Parfitt said, will only benefit Bermuda cricket in the long-term.

?The more people we get out of Bermuda will only benefit the Island in the future,? he insists. ?This will only better Bermuda cricket in the long term and we need to get the younger ones first who will learn something from the experience rather than just going overseas for a holiday. ?

On a different note, Parfitt ? also Scotland?s Under 15 national coach ? hopes to retain the services of Western Stars opener Treadwell Gibbons Jr who looks set to carry on where he left off last season.

?As far as young Treadwell is concerned, it?s all up to him,? he said. ?I?ve already spoken to the club who are very much keen on having him return.?

Gibbons is expected to return to the UK early next month.