Cricket clubs are in desperate need of new players, it has been claimed.

Bermuda Cricket Board of Control president El James said: "This is probably the worst we have ever had it.'' James, who blames the dwindling numbers on the lack of a development programme over the last eight years -- a situation he is trying to rectify with the establishment of two new youth leagues -- revealed that a number of prominent clubs could struggle to field teams this summer.

Some could even be forced to withdraw from the league, he feared.

James, who took over as president last July, voiced his concerns shortly after it was announced that the under-19 International Youth Team would cease to operate as an individual First Division team.

He reasoned: "We want to send those under-19 players to the clubs where they can really become involved in the programmes at that level where the numbers are clearly down.'' James claimed the clubs were now suffering from the lack of foresight by the previous BCBC administration. By leaving youth cricket in limbo, they had failed to help supply the clubs with players as they progressed.

But, Shell are now back on board and BF&M have joined them on deck, backing youth leagues at under 13 and under 16 level to the tune of $30,000.

"We must never allow that to happen again,'' said James.

"If you don't have a breeding programme your domestic senior programme is going to be in trouble.

He added: "We can sit back and say that it's the responsibility of the clubs to develop their own youngsters. But it's also the responsibility of the Board since we are the governing body of cricket.

"We have to take the initiative and put together a junior programme which we think is going to benefit everybody and we are doing that.

"The clubs should have an abundance of players to choose from to replenish their ranks.'' Island cricket officials have moved a step nearer reviving a triangular tournament involving Bermuda's senior team.

Discussions with their counterparts in Canada are well advanced and they admit there is a "real possibility'' that a competition along the lines of the Henry Tucker tournament could be held this summer.

The competition involved Bermuda, the United States and Canada in matches at the National Stadium when it was last held in the mid-1970s.

Its revival was one of the many recommendations made by the committee chaired by Jim Woolridge -- set up more than two years ago to investigate the restructuring of cricket on the Island.

The senior squad are again expected to compete in the Red Stripe Bowl one-day competition in the West Indies in the autumn but such a tournament would give them some welcome international competition prior to that.

James said: "We have to focus on the Caribbean now. They are the ones providing us with cricket -- unless we can come up with something of our own.

And that's not so far-fetched; there's a real possibility we could get a triangular tournament for the senior side this summer.'' James admitted there had been little contact with other sides in the region, such as the US and Argentina, who might be interested in making up the third side of the triangle. But he added: "It may be that we could start off with two teams and then involve others at a later stage.'' James first revealed details of Bermuda's interest in re-establishing the competition last November. He said then that he hoped it would be at both senior and junior level.

But it now seems more likely that, with the new youth leagues shortly to be put in place, junior players will get their international exposure through the West Indies Cricket Board-sponsored Carib Cement under-15 tournament.

EL JAMES -- blames shortage on policies of the previous administration.