David Hemp has been appointed vice-captain of Bermuda's senior national cricket squad for the ICC World Cup qualifiers in South Africa in April.

National coach Gus Logie confirmed yesterday that the 38-year old batsman has replaced youngster Rodney Trott in the key position.

Hemp had previously served as vice-captain during Bermuda's 2007 tour of Kenya.

"There was a recommendation that Hemp be made vice-captain for World Cup qualifiers and our decision was based on his experience and we feel this was a good time to relieve Rodney of added pressure, " explained Logie.

Speaking from the UK, Hemp said: "Naturally I am very pleased to have been given the role of vice-captain and I am certainly looking forward to the additional responsibility that it entails at this very important time for the national squad.

"We have a difficult few months coming up with some tough competition. But we as a squad – both management and players – have a great opportunity in the days that lie ahead to make history like the previous qualifying squad did in 2005 by reaching the next World Cup."

The Bermuda-born cricketer was released by English County side Glamorgan last fall and is he is currently coaching children at the Solihull School just outside Birmingham in England.

Since his arrival on the national scene following Bermuda's qualification to a first World Cup nearly four years ago, Hemp has raised the bar several notches.

In 2006 he blasted a record 247 not out against the Netherlands in the Intercontinental Cup and a year later helped himself to unbeaten 174 against United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the same competition.

He also shares Intercontinental Cup partnership records with Saleem Mukuddem (219 for the seventh-wicket) and Kevin Hurdle (132 for the ninth-wicket) and at the previous World Cup led Bermuda's resistance with a battling 76 in a record 257-run loss to Rahul Dravid's India at the Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad.

Logie continued: "It is always good to have someone with Hemp's experience in the team. It's going to be a very difficult tournament and we are going to need all the experience we can get.

"It's going to be a high pressured tournament, and at the end of the day these are the people we have identified who can handle this sort of pressure. It was a decision that the selectors made, basically."

Logie's squad depart for the Caribbean on January 29 where they will play four World Cup warm-up matches against local opposition.

England-based Hemp will join up with the squad during the later stages of the tour.

Meanwhile, Logie provided an update on the rehabilitation of star all-rounder Janeiro Tucker who underwent knee surgery late last year.

Tucker is among a nucleus of 18-players currently under contract with Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) who have left no stone unturned in their gradual build-up to this year's World Cup qualifiers.

"Janeiro has been put on a special programme with our physio (Craig Brown) and is doing special work at the gym and at the moment," Logie explained.

"We are trying our best to work with Janeiro to try and get him as fit as possible. And he has responded very well and has put in a lot of hard work in the nets and gym as well."

Earlier this week the BCB confirmed that batsman Oronde Bascome had been jettisoned from the squad for breaching terms of his contract. And yesterday Logie revealed that St.David's fast bowler, George O'Brien jr, was reprimanded for playing in a First Division football match at White Hill Field last weekend in which he scored.

"I have already expressed my disappointment with George because he is one of the players who accepted the contract in principle," he said.

"I spoke to George after the game he played on Sunday and he has been reprimanded by the Board and has agreed not to play any more football.

"At the end of the day we all have our responsibilities, and we hope the players understand that."