Dear Sir,

When I read yesterday's sports story headlined ‘Island's cricket stars axed' by crack sports writer Colin Thompson I could not help but reflect on a conversation I had some time ago with a former Bermuda skipper who said he looked forward to the day when Bermuda would field its best eleven in an international tournament.

It is a shame that so many were axed or unavailable. I was particularly disappointed to learn that Janeiro Tucker, Dion Stovell, Glenn Blakeney, Greg Foggo and Hasan Durham won't be participating in the Americas Cup tournament this summer.

But I believe national coach Mark Harper got it right when he said: ‘If the players are interested then they will be a part of the squad but if they are not, then they are no longer a part of the squad.'

You can't force players to represent their country, there has to be a burning desire to want to play.

I was, however, encouraged to learn that training is progressing well and that those who did turn out are working extremely hard.

The main concern at this point should be that Reggie Pearman and the Bermuda Cricket Board ensure that our team gets the competitive practice matches they need to perform well this summer or else we will be sending our guys into battle with one hand tied behind their back. Inter-squad and domestic matches are simply not good enough.

In Monday's Royal Gazette, BFA technical director Kenny Thompson, whose team is currently competing in World Cup qualifiers, expressed the need for his squad to play some difficult opposition before Bermuda's next round against El Salvador which he stated the BFA were attempting to line up now.

The BCB should follow the BFA's lead here and provide our guys with suitable opposition before the Americas tournament gets underway in July - whether it is an outgoing or incoming tour.

It should be noted that two of our main competitors in July, the USA and Canada, participated in the ICC Six Nations Challenge in Dubai earlier this month so they are getting properly prepared. Shouldn't we?

RECMAN

Dear Sir,

With Carifta only some two weeks away, I'm quite certain no other small islands are fighting over keeping an excellent young athlete (i.e. Whitney Matthew) off their team.

So how is it that the “host” of Carifta 2004 and participating individuals are still not working together?

Come on folks . . . our island is a raindrop next to the flood that is coming from Jamaica. Surely we want to put our best face, foot, entire body of “appearance” forward.

It's not like the event is next year. Where/when is there going to be time for team coherence to develop, let alone team spirit.

Well . . . it looks like this stand-off may become a stalemate, but at whose expense . . . the track club, BTFA, or young athletes who work so hard doing what they are told . . .only to be disappointed in the end?

Sirs, can you come clean and tell it like it is, please.

On Saturday, March 13, on Page 13 of The Royal Gazette, it said: “Athletes will be given special consideration”.

Why not just do so! If they feel that someone needs to pay, let the coaches/or clubs be penalised.

But please let the athletes compete. They are really what the Games are about. Let them give Bermuda something to cheer about!

Alternatively, just waive this situation and clear it up afterwards, because we surely won't be seeing Carifta in Bermuda for a long time to come.

Keep the athletes' hopes alive.

CONCERNED PARENT OF A FUTURE ATHLETE?

Sandys