BCB Corrects “Misleading & Untrue Reports”
The Bermuda Cricket Board [BCB] issued a statement to “correct some misleading and untrue reported statements” about the behaviour of the under 15 cricket team during their recent tour of Canada, which claimed that the Bermuda players were guilty of bad behaviour and numerous breaches of Code of Conduct.
The relevant portion of the report – from an American cricket website – follows below:
For the second time in the week, a controversy involving Bermuda sprung up when Micah Perozzi was given out obstructing the field on the second ball of the 28th over to make it 147 for 8. Perozzi defended a full delivery from Ferdinands toward silly point.
While the ball was still bouncing, Singh came out from behind the stumps to pick it up, but as he leaned down to field Perozzi kicked the ball away from him. The ball was not bouncing toward the stumps so the action taken by Perozzi was not done in defense of his wicket. Singh then asked the umpires, “Howzat?”
Both umpires entered into a discussion and asked Senathirajah if he wanted to withdraw Canada’s appeal. Singh then appealed again and with no objection coming from Senathirajah, Perozzi was given out. Perozzi began gesturing at both umpires while a member of the Bermuda management ran out onto the field to protest but the umpires stayed with the decision.
Bermuda came out to field with very aggressive body language and didn’t hold back from sledging. Tensions were on the rise after the Perozzi dismissal and on the first ball of the chase, Gibbons-Wade delivered a neck high full toss at Harsh Thakar.
In the next over, the keeper Bean-Wilson gave a shoulder barge into Thakar while fielding a throw. The umpires once again drew the ire of the Bermuda management staff off the field when they approached Darrell to have a word about controlling his players increasingly poor behavior, which was evident all week long.
The opening stand ended at 31 when Ramdath was caught for 13 slogging the left-arm spin of Rawlins to Perozzi at long on. Things got even uglier after Perozzi completed the catch when he started a celebration which involved him turning to the Canada bench to start shooting an imaginary machine gun while yelling out, “Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!”
The Bermuda team then went to the boundary edge to welcome the new batsman Bradley Dickson, with all 11 fielders surrounding him and chatting to him all the way to the crease which prompted one of the Canada management members to yell out, “Stay away from my batsman!”
The full statement from the BCB follows below:
The BCB wishes to correct some misleading and untrue reported statements in relation to the recent National U15 participation in ICC Americas Division 1. The BCB has had a full debrief on this specific matter from all 3 members of tour management in addition to communication from tournament organizers.
The reported statements claim that the Bermuda players were guilty of bad behaviour and numerous breaches of Code of Conduct during the matches in Canada.
Both tour management and ICC officials have confirmed that there was no behaviour on tour that warranted any negative umpire?s report and the majority of so-called incidents are blatantly untrue.
Some of the examples of this include:
- Claim that Bermuda bowler deliberately bowled a high-full toss is untrue
- Claim that Bermuda wicketkeeper deliberately gave a shoulder barge to a Canadian player is untrue
- Claim that a Bermuda fielder displayed excessive taunting directed the Canadian bench after taking a catch is untrue
- Claim that all 11 members of the Bermuda team went to the boundary edge to surround and sledge the new batsman is untrue.
Reginald Pearman, President stated, “I would like to commend the U15 team for their performance against tough competition and their tenacity to pull back after a slow start to finish joint first with USA and Canada. This is a highly competitive and talented division to beat and our players performed admirably. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Bank of Bermuda Foundation for their continued support of this deserving programme.”
David Moore, National Coach stated, “It is clear to me that the BCB Youth Structure and National Academy program is producing quality cricketers capable of performing at the International level. I would like to congratulate the players on their individual and team performances. It is encouraging to see the fight and commitment that the team showed after being two games down and coming back to win the final two matches and even it up at two wins a piece with Canada and the USA.
Well done Boys!
People are so quick to throw any negative ‘gossip’ out into the atmosphere especially as it relates to our young men. And you know the American media is pro at this. These youngsters have represented Bermuda well and should not have to be subject to witch hunts and slander. It’s a sad day I tell you.
So one side says they were angels, the other side says they were demons… It is likely that the truth lies somewhere in the middle.