all of Bermuda's Americas Cup cricket matches in Toronto last week.

White, who was outstanding in Somerset's Cup Match victory just a day before the national team left for Canada, had been expected to play a major role in Bermuda's bid to win the the inaugural five-nation competition.

But instead he was confined to the sidelines because of a lack of documentation proving he met the three-year residency requirement for participation.

Bermuda Cricket Board of Control president El James yesterday emphasised that the Barbados-born player did, in fact, satisfy all requirements. But the problem, he said, arose as a result of White's newly issued passport not being properly stamped.

"He only had one thing stamped in his passport and that was that he had 21 days to stay in Bermuda and do what he had to do. He didn't even have a work permit,'' said James.

"This became a bone of contention and rather that go through all the mess of trying to prove that he was legitimate, we chose not to play him. But we have satisfied all the qualifications for the future.

"It wasn't an oversight on our part because we know that Wendell is legitimate. But rather than send back home for more proof and documentation, it was easier to send for another player.'' Ironically, that player turned out to be another Bajan, policeman Dennis Archer, who was whisked away to join the squad and played solidly with both bat and ball, scoring 59 in the final match against Canada after taking three wickets against United States a day earlier.

White has been resident on the Island for some four years and has captained Somerset's league team during the past two years.

Last year saw him make his first appearance in the annual Cup Match classic, primarily as a bowler, but this year saw him explode with the bat as he saved the west enders' first innings and put them on course for a momentous triumph with a bludgeoning knock of 93.

While Bermuda performed well in Canada without White -- their only loss was against Canada in the final match -- James admitted the attack lacked venom, and believed on the pacy Canadian wickets White could have been a threat.

White out: Allrounder Wendell White was mysterious by his absence from the Bermuda line-up during the recent Americas Cup tournament.