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The umpiring dispute is over.

An impasse between the Barbados Cricket Umpires Association (BCUA) and the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) over comments by BCA president Tony Marshall that led to umpires withdrawing their services from the Nortel youth championship, has been resolved after an apology from Marshall.

In a strong protest to Marshalls unflattering remarks on a radio programme Tuesday night, BCUA members did not report for duty yesterday, the scheduled openingday of third round matches.

Tournament and team officials assembled for an emergency meeting at Kensington Oval just before noon and after discussions between the hierarchy of the BCUA and the BCA, umpires president Mervyn Jones said the 12 umpires previously assigned to the four matches would report for duty today.

Jones said their decision was made after receiving a copy of a fax from the president of the BCA in which an apology was tendered to the BCUA.

The BCUA accepts this apology with the understanding that the BCA will, as a matter of urgency, meet with the BCUA to discuss and settle any matters which remain unresolved, Jones told reporters at an evening Press conference.

The BCUA therefore requests members assigned to games to report to their respective games (today) in the interest of continued development of our cricket.

During Tuesday nights Best And Mason programme on CBC Radio, Marshall said the BCA board decided that it did not feel it could recommend BCUA members to the West Indies Cricket Board for international duty.

Marshall, however, withdrew those comments yesterday.

On programmes of this nature, there is not always the opportunity to research fully the details of answers to questions posed, he said.

Withdrew remarks

I unreservedly withdraw my explanation of the reasons no recommendation went forward and apologise to the BCUA.

Chairman of the tournaments organising committee, Keith Simmons, said the loss of yesterdays play would be made up.

The current round of matches, as usual, will be played over three successive days, meaning that the players would be denied the chance of attending Sundays Pic-O-De-Crop semifinals and Party Monarch finals at the East Coast.

Simmons said there would be further discussions over the fixtures for the remainder of the tournament. Indications are that Kadooment Day, which was originally an off-day, would now become a playing day.

Simmons, who is also the BCAs first vice-president, lauded the BCUA for its part in bringing the one-day strike to an end.

I want to place on record, thanks and appreciation of the board for the swiftness in which Mr. Jones and his team have dealt with this matter, he said.

I believe that in making their decision, like all of us, they have put cricket first.

Marshall was absent during yesterdays public consultations on the impasse although he did turn up for the closing ceremony of the Sir Garfield Sobers schools contest at Kensington Oval.