WHITEWASHED on home soil by a touring club side and a contractual dispute which prompted players to boycott training . . . it?s hardly an ideal state of affairs with the cricket World Cup now less than six months away.

Both on and off the field, Bermuda Cricket Board clearly have some issues which quickly need to be addressed as they attempt to move forward.

To be fair, the Board were not instrumental in organising the visit of Trinidad?s Clico Preysal, who made light of all of their opponents during a five-match tour.

But two of those games were against young, experimental national elevens at the National Sports Centre.

And what Clico?s visit did show was that outside the main core of players ? those largely responsible for qualifying Bermuda for the World Cup in the first place and then securing the Americas championship in Canada this past summer ? there are few, if any, on the fringe capable of breaking into the full national team.

When Janeiro Tucker?s Southampton Rangers swept all honours in domestic cricket this season, he paid tribute to his club?s ?strength in depth.?

At the higher lever, Tucker and his national team-mates have no such luxury.

Bermuda have a small nucleus of precious talent, on whom a nation?s hopes rest.

With an extensive tour of Africa planned at the end of next month, and another on the same continent in January ? both considered crucial as Bermuda complete their preparation for the World Cup ? national coach Gus Logie must already have a very good idea who he?ll be taking to the Caribbean when the sport?s showpiece event gets underway next March.

Those considered to have any international potential can?t say they haven?t been given a chance by Logie over the past year or more, since Bermuda qualified. But it?s become increasingly clear there are few players out there, other than those already in the national squad, capable of making the grade.

That was all too obvious in the manner in which Clico ? albeit a club team containing some very useful players ? dismissed their opponents, barely breaking sweat.

It?s therefore imperative that the players we are relying on be given a fair deal, and are handled in an open and honest way.

Any issues they have with the Board regarding their contracts need to be resolved immediately.

Indeed, such matters should have been sorted out long before now. The question begs, why are the players still having to haggle over compensation with the World Cup just around the corner?

We all know there are sufficient funds in the BCB coffers to amply reward the players, and have been for some considerable time.

It?s a distraction the Board, Logie and, most importantly, the players could all do without.

Unhappy off the field, players can?t be expected to perform at their best once they get on it.

Seemingly acting as a mediator between his players and his employers, Logie will realise the importance of settling the dispute as soon as possible, and the potential consequences if negotiations drag on.

West Indies learned a harsh lesson not too long ago ? their own contractual dispute wreaking havoc with the team?s international commitments.

Hopefully, it won?t be allowed to reach that stage here.