As many as five Bermuda players could face disciplinary charges for their conduct in ICC T20 World Cup Americas Qualifier matches in Antigua, team manager Russell Richardson revealed yesterday.

Four could be charged for their conduct in the ill-tempered opening loss to the United States on Monday, when Bermuda’s opening batsmen, Tre Manders and Allan Douglas Jr, were allegedly subjected to sledging from US players Ali Khan and Xavier Marshall during the team’s 23-run loss.

Richardson also hinted another Bermuda player could face disciplinary action for his conduct in Thursday’s victory over Panama, which followed the team’s second loss earlier in the day to Canada.

“I’m not putting it out there yet,” said Richardson, who declined to name the players involved. “There may be a fifth one from yesterday’s match [against Panama] but I haven’t got the paperwork yet.

“I’ll probably get that paperwork this afternoon or tomorrow. At the end of the tour, I’m more than willing to give the names of the players. I have to send a report to the [Bermuda Cricket] Board, as they need to get it first.”

Richardson stayed back at the hotel yesterday doing paperwork while the team went on a bus tour on their rest day. Bermuda close out their six-game schedule with matches today and tomorrow against Belize and Argentina respectively.

Going into the tournament, it was expected that Bermuda would be competing against the US and Canada for one of the two spots for the next round of qualifying. Losses to those teams have virtually ended Bermuda’s hopes of advancing to the next qualifying stage ahead of the 2022 ICC T20 World Cup in Australia.

The US have already secured one spot with five straight victories, while Bermuda’s slim hopes rest with Canada losing at least one of their last two matches, while climbing above them on net run-rate.

“The team is in high spirits, but I can put it down to them not pulling their weight when they had to,” Richardson said of the two defeats.

“We have lost the two most important games, Canada and the United States, and we will probably win the rest. We just have to hope that one of the lower teams beat Canada or the United States.

“They had the better schedule, they played the weaker teams first and the stronger teams last.”

Bermuda played the US and Canada in their first three matches, matches they needed to win.

“[Coach] Herbie has done a good job getting them prepared, keeping them mentally strong and we even had a session with a sports psychologist,” Richardson said.

“We’re even getting small injuries coming up, too, but they’re being worked on. None of them should keep the players out of the games.”

Richardson had praise for the quality of the playing fields in Antigua.

“The wickets are good, playing well, and the fields are in good shape,” he said. “We played Panama yesterday, a great fielding team. They can’t bat but they can field like heck!

“We just failed against the two teams we needed to beat.“