Confusion at the Crease: Tucker Rejects BCB Coaching Role
IslandStats.com
A fresh wave of controversy has hit the Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) after legendary all-rounder Janeiro Tucker vehemently denied being part of a new national coaching panel announced by President Lloyd Smith.
In a surprising turn of events, Tucker has moved to "clear his name," refuting claims made on Wednesday to www,islandstats.com that he and business associate Mahesh Hatkar would help lead the senior men's national team’s preparations for the upcoming international season. The denial comes just one day after the BCB announced a shift in strategy, opting for a four-man coaching panel rather than a traditional head coach following the transition of Cal Waldron to the role of Director of Coaching.
Speaking directly to www.islandstats.com, Tucker—the owner and operator of the 186 High Performance Cricket Academy—insisted that while he had been approached by the BCB as early as last year, no formal agreement or contract has ever been signed.
"I have not agreed to become coach of the national training squad," Tucker stated. "We just can’t say we are going to go and be a part of something as we need a contract... There is no truth to the statement that we are part of that four-man national coaching panel."
Tucker further explained that his business associate, Mahesh Hatkar, is currently in Bermuda on a work permit specifically to lead youth programs at the 186 Academy. He expressed anger that the BCB would claim Hatkar was part of their setup without any affiliation between the academy and the board.
The timing of this dispute is particularly critical for the national program. The senior squad is currently preparing for the North American Cup in the Cayman Islands, scheduled for April 4th – 12th, and is set to host a major T20 World Cup Americas Sub-Regional Qualifier in June.
President Lloyd Smith had previously expressed confidence in the new panel, which was also set to include local coaches Herbie Bascome and George O'Brien Jr. Smith’s vision was to utilize a group of specialists to cover different aspects of the game—such as batting and bowling—until a head coach could be assessed and recommended by the High-Performance Committee.
However, with one half of that proposed panel now publicly distancing themselves from the project, the BCB faces a significant leadership gap as they head into a busy 2026 international calendar.
