SOME time in the next couple of days ? if he hasn't already ? Somerset selection committee chairman Mark Trott expects to hear from Saleem Mukuddem telling him that he has a change of heart and will be available for selection for Cup Match.

Mukuddem recently informed the club he was putting country before Cup Match and concentrating on the national team's trip to Canada which was set to begin the day after Cup Match.

However, the latest development this week is that the Bermuda Cricket Board will not now be asking national team bowlers not to play in the classic. That stance was taken by the board for fear of bowlers, particularly, picking up injuries ahead of the trip to Canada for a series of one-day internationals against Canada and Kenya.

That trip has has to be put back a week because Kenya are now unable to participate. It clears the way for both clubs to pick their strongest teams and certainly the challengers will be hoping to hear from the experienced Mukuddem.

"I think from the beginning our understanding was that players always had that choice to play or not," said Trott yesterday.

"They were never told they couldn't play, but obviously now with the proposed one-day matches with Kenya postponed, or cancelled, it throws a different light on the situation. I will wait and see if they come back to us and say we have reconsidered. Those who informed us did the honourable think and informed us in writing and we thought that was first class.

"What people tend to overlook is we always want to have a solid nucleus, so we never want to lose a player of Mukuddem's experience. If he reconsiders I will take it back to the selection committee."

The other player who informed the club of his unavailability is fast bowler Kevin Hurdle who is playing club cricket in England.

Even without the pair Somer