Bermuda's Under-19 ICC World Cup qualifying hopes have suffered a severe setback following the axing of two key players from the team for fighting during a practice session.

And, in addition, two other members of the squad have dropped out.

St.David's fast bowler George O'Brien Jr. and Western Stars early order bat Treadwell Gibbons Jr. were both booted off the national team and subsequently suspended from all domestic cricket for six games after being found guilty by Bermuda Cricket Board of bringing the game into disrepute.

It is understood that both St.David's and Western Stars have appealed the players' suspensions.

According to eyewitness accounts, an argument broke out between the two talented players over a bicycle which then escalated into an heated altercation said to have involved a cricket bat and a huge rock being thrown.

Bermuda's Under-19 youth squad are due to head north to Canada next Wednesday to take part in the international tournament. Both O'Brien and Gibbons had been expected to play leading roles in the team which will be finalised later today.

When contacted yesterday, BCB officials remained tight-lipped over the matter.

Meanwhile, it was learned that promising Southampton Rangers young left-arm seamer Dwia Blyden and Warwick's Allan Douglas Jr. both dropped out of the team for personal reasons.

This means Bermuda will compete in the tournament minus four of its key players - two bowlers and two batsmen.

"They wasn't actually fighting, they used a cricket bat and a rock. They used weapons - that's why they got the suspension," said one eyewitness to the incident, who asked to remain anonymous.

"George (O'Brien) threw a bat at Gibbons (Treadwell) and of course he retaliated. They threw punches and then when it was all finished Gibbons went back, picked up a big rock and threw it and struck O'Brien in the back.

"That rock could've hit anybody, the players or even the coaching staff.

"Really it was very stupid . . . fighting over a bike. Now they have depleted the team because George was one the team's star bowlers and Gibbons was the opening batsman. Even though the team still have other players capable of doing the job, those two were two of the team's key players."

In addition to the four players' unavailability, a question mark looms over the fitness of medium pacer Jacobi Robinson.

Robinson missed Somerset's match against Southampton Rangers on Sunday and is now expected to be given a fitness test during today's final practice session at the National Sports Centre.

The last time Bermuda's Under-19 national team saw international competition was in 2001 on local soil. The Island played host to the America's Regional Under-19 Championships in which Bermuda finished second to eventual winners Canada.

Bermuda lost the final round-robin match to the Canadians by 37 runs at Somerset Cricket Club.

Bermuda's current youth squad is comprised of several young "veterans" who took part in that tournament.