A Bermuda Cricket Board of Control selector has fired heavy criticism at senior national squad players for showing negativity during the build-up to the Americas Cup tournament in Argentina.

Veteran cricketer Noel Gibbons, who is also player-coach of Bailey's Bay, called on local players to show national pride, total commitment and dedication when it comes to representing Bermuda at international tournaments.

With the start to the new season getting underway with the Camel Cup last weekend Gibbons felt that now was an appropriate time to get the message across that Bermudian cricket should not have to put up with such a negative response from players again.

"It was a national disgrace. Never have I experienced anything like this in many years as a player in this country,'' said Gibbons, whose departure from Bermuda on a coaching course to South Africa culminates with a brief two-month playing and coaching stint in England.

Gibbons had a first-hand experience to witness the Board's struggle to fill voids left by the withdrawal of players at the 11th hour as the team prepared for Argentina earlier this year - many giving no apparent reason for doing so.

He felt that it was one of the most embarrassing moments for Bermudian cricket, pointing out that it was unreasonable for the players to put this sort of a burden on the shoulders of the Board and national coach Mark Harper.

"What we went through the last month or so before the team left was really a mystery to me.

"It is a mystery that the players don't seem to have the national pride that existed when I was a member of the squad,'' he said.

"I am not saying this about all of the players, but there was a larger percentage than we would liked to have seen act this way and it's a pity that players have such negative attitudes. It's not just a pity, it's a darn disgrace.

"In all my years if we had a squad of about 30 I can guarantee you that there would be about 25 out there training. Why this country's pride is lacking is puzzling and at times inexplicable and to be honest it was upsetting to sit by the wayside and watch the neglect shown by the players.''

Gibbons felt that many veteran players would have rallied to rescue the squad, offering their support at a stage when it was vital for Bermuda to avoid dropping out of an international tournament and consequently losing credibility.

He suggested that players like himself, Allan Douglas, Arnold Manders, Clevie Wade and Dexter Smith would have reacted positively if asked to fill in the gaps at the last minute.

"I know for certain that I would have jumped at the opening to represent Bermuda any time, even at this stage in my mid-40s. I always put my country first and foremost and this will never change,'' said Gibbons.

"I really felt then that the Board should have at least invited a few of those I have already mentioned because none would have embarrassed themselves down in Argentina and they would have been fully committed and exceedingly thrilled to be called up from the outset.

"For years I have said that Bermuda has a serious age complex, when players reach 40 they are ready to be pushed aside. When you look at the situation here in Bermuda, the majority of the older players are your better players."

Gibbons said he had sympathy for the national coach.

"I really felt sorry for coach Harper. Privately he must has asked himself `What am I doing here in Bermuda?'," he said.

"I really felt for him, to see our players react like this, withdrawing from a tournament designed to help the smaller cricket countries like ourselves and the others compete against each other in order to develop so that we can climb to greater heights as a nation.''

Gibbons has recently been appointed to the selection committee by new BCBC president Reggie Pearman and he views it as quite an honour.

He recalled accepting without hesitation when El James' administration asked him to become a selection member and he now intends to be fully committed under Pearman's regime.

"When it comes to assisting my country at any capacity in cricket I am available, everybody knows that. Cricket has always been my love I intend to make every attempt to put as much back into it as I got out of it'' he said.