Assistant national cricket coach Herbie Bascome escaped with a slap on the wrist earlier this week for committing a Level Two offence when he was reprimanded by Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) for bringing the game into disrepute.

Bascome was written up and subsequently dealt with by the Board for allegedly smashing the stumps with his bat after being dismissed during an August 24 Premier Division match involving his club St.George's and nearby rivals St.David's at Wellington Oval.

According to several eye-witnesses, Bascome committed the offence after dragging a Justin Pitcher delivery onto the stumps.

Yesterday local cricket's governing body came under criticism for handling the serious nature of Bascome's transgressions in a lenient manner. Ex-Bermuda wicketkeeper-batsman Dennis Wainwright is among those who feel the Board's reluctance to impose heavier punishment has sent the "wrong signals".

"Anywhere else in the world a case such as this would've been dealt with more severely," he argued. "When players misbehave themselves we have to deal with them and I am surpised Herbie would resort to something like this at this stage of his career.

"You would expect better behaviour from people like Herbie but if you commit an offence you have to be dealt with accordingly and not based on your position in the sport. But we have to stop this business of dealing with people based on who they are and if you are a leader then you should be setting an example to the rest of your players.

"If someone knocks down the stumps there shouldn't be any question as to what punishment should be served. You can't deal with someone like Herbie one way and than don't think twice about imposing heavier punishment on a lesser known player.

"It seems as though we have different penalties for different people which is not right because something of this nature should be straight across the board. You can't be lenient on Herbie just because he's the assistant coach.

"As the assistant national coach what example is Herbie setting? What can he now say to another player playing under him who may commit the same offence? You can't confront others on their wrong doings if you are doing the same thing."

It is understood that local cricket's governing body were well aware of Bascome's transgressions yet still named him coach as Gus Logie's assistant during Bermuda's recent Intercontinental Cup match against Namibia.

"We expect better behaviour from our leaders and when they misbehave themselves we have to deal with them because if we don't it certainly sends the wrong message," Wainwright added. "It sends the wrong signals to others who may now think they can misbehave themselves and then get away with it."