Shell Caribbean Cup, top athlete Ricky Hill is again being asked to choose between cricket and soccer.

Hill is one of about seven members of the national training squad being asked to decide between Bermuda's two premier sports as the Bermuda Cricket Board of Control bids to seize its best chance of qualifying for the World Cup, which will be next held in 1995.

The others affected are fast bowler Dale Fox, batsmen Albert Steede, Dennis Archer and Olin Jones, spinner Del Hollis and all-rounder Lionel Cann. Of that bunch only Jones has not been active in soccer this season, though he is registered with Second Division Southampton Rangers.

Back in March 1990, Hill, Jones and Kyle Lightbourne were asked to decide between the ICC Trophy in June that year in Holland and Bermuda's entry into the Shell Caribbean Cup. All three put cricket before soccer.

Since then Lightbourne, however, has switched his allegiance to soccer and is now playing professionally in England while Jones has been inactive in soccer the last couple of seasons.

Hill, now that his own international soccer career appears to be over, is likely to again stick with cricket, though now it means not playing domestically with Hotels International.

Hill, presently recovering from a broken thumb sustained in soccer, has declined comment until he has spoken with BCBC president Ed Bailey who only returned to the Island yesterday.

Yesterday Bailey confirmed that a meeting was held last Thursday to spell out the board's plans to the team members.

"I told them I want a squad that has the right mental attitude for playing in the World Cup and that some of them can't share themselves between both sports for the next two years,'' said Bailey. "I also said to them that if they're thinking about playing in the biggest international cricket tournament they must start to think like the Australians, English and West Indians. They don't have players playing two sports.

"You cannot be playing in the World Cup and playing two sports. Kyle made his choice and it was the only way he was going to become a professional.'' Bailey's confidence of reaching the '95 World Cup is such that he does not talk about if Bermuda qualify in Kenya, but when .

He estimates it could cost the board approximately $300,000 to reach cricket's biggest tournament.

"We have at least 70 percent sponsorship for '93,'' he said. "For the programme for '94 we'll be looking for sponsorship in the next six months.

"If anybody on the board is looking at just Kenya than they shouldn't be on the board. The players left that meeting knowing how serious the board is.'' Albert Steede is a player who would be forced to decide between not two, but three sports, as he plays both soccer and hockey during the winter.

"I wasn't at the meeting, so I don't really know what's the deal,'' said Steede. "Football is a part of my fitness. Maybe I would stop, I don't know.

I haven't really thought about it.

"I'm not going to be doing this (playing soccer) for the whole season anyway.

If they're only going to be training on Saturdays, that's not enough fitness for me.

"So on a fitness level I would continue playing football to keep my level up.

Right now with my work commitments, I'm only able to run during the week.

"If they're not going to have practice games or training on Sundays I'm going to have to do something. If not football, I'll be out there playing hockey.'' With Zimbabwe having gained Test status earlier this year the three favourites in the next ICC Trophy should be Holland, Bangladesh and Denmark.

The local squad of 30 players have been in training for the past few weeks and twice next year, in March and again around September, squads will travel to Barbados for training camps.

Already the Barbados Cricket Board has assured the BCBC that facilities will be laid on for their two visits. Bailey also disclosed there is the possibility of a couple of tours here next summer.

Captain Wendell Smith is excited about what lies ahead. "Things are looking to pick up in the New Year,'' he said.

"The next two years are looking to be the most exciting ever in Bermuda cricket with what the board has lined up.'' Just who hosts the '95 World Cup will be decided in early February in London.

Bailey is a part of that selection process and will be amongst the ICC representatives who will choose between England and a joint bid from Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka now that South Africa have withdrawn their bid.