Bermuda Cricket Board of Control yesterday released the squad for next month's Red Stripe Bowl in Jamaica.

Somerset Cup Match and Willow Cuts captain Dexter Basden, this year's St.

George's Cup Match hero Herbie Bascome, Irving Romaine of Bailey's Bay, Gregg Foggo of St. George's and Donald Norford of Devonshire Rec. are in the group of 14 who will head for Kingston next Thursday morning to play in at least four matches.

The announcement ended weeks of speculation over the squad's make-up -- and the shuffling may not be over yet.

The squad is already reeling from two failed drug tests last week and reports of player unavailability continue to swirl around the team, leaving uncertainty over which of yesterday's 14 will actually be getting on the plane next week.

Former captain Albert Steede was said to be having problems being released from the Department of Education, although it is believed those will be ironed out within the next few days.

The board is also believed to be looking into the cases of other players who have been approved to travel by employers but without compensation.

"It has been a hectic period for us, but a learning experience from which I know that the board will benefit a lot in the long run,'' said BCBC president El James, sighing in relief after completing the selection.

James conceded that most of the difficulties the board has experienced resulted from the West Indies Cricket Board's delay in confirming the venues and dates of the competition and claimed that his administration did well to deal with the matter quickly after all was finalised. "We are not perfect.

Everybody knows that we had a short time to prepare,'' he said.

"It's not our fault that details of the tournament were slow to reach us, nor is it our fault that the West Indies board were late in announcing the change of sponsors and venues.'' "For an executive that only took over in July we had so little time to do all what was required, it was indeed a scramble once official notification was received that plans were forcing ahead for a start on October 4 in Jamaica and not in Grenada or St. Lucia.'' James again refused to comment on revelations that two players flunked their drug test after originally being named to the squad.

But he did reveal that all of the test results for the current squad had been received and that all of them came back negative. "All I am prepared to say is that we have overcome all of the obstacles that are going to come our way and the guys now are ready to go and win a game or two, or all of them for that matter,'' said James.

"I just would like to encourage all of Bermuda to support us and get behind the team that I know will endeavour to go down there and bring back the cup or some glory for our Island.'' National Squad Arnold Manders (captain) Albert Steede Clay Smith Anthony Amory Lionel Cann Janeiro Tucker Irving Romaine Roger Trott Donald Norford Del Hollis Herbie Bascome Roger Blades Gregg Foggo Stand-by players: Dennis Archer, Cleon Scotland HEADING SOUTH -- Batsman Albert Steede will be counted when the Bermuda senior national team heads to Jamaica next week. Dexter Basden (immediate right) and Herbie Bascome (far right) were also named to the squad, released yesterday.