Marlon Samuels Case

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Marlon Samuels found guilty of rules breach

MIAMI: West Indies batsman Marlon Samuels has been found guilty of breaching regulations after a probe into allegations of links with a bookmaker, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) said.

Samuels, 27, could now face a two-year ban from the game if the International Cricket Council (ICC) enforces a mandatory ban.

The WICB said their disciplinary committee had found that Samuels had breached ICC Rules of Conduct 4, which says that if any cricketer receives money, benefit or other reward which could bring him or the game of cricket into disrepute could face a two-year ban from the game.

The committee looked into charges that Jamaican Samuels passed on team information to a bookmaker during a one-day series in India in January 2007.

The committee, which will now pass on its findings to the ICC, said they would prefer for Samuels not to face a ban but to be "bound over to be of good behaviour for a period not exceeding two years".

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Samuels faces two-year ban


LONDON: West Indies star Marlon Samuels faces a two-year suspension after being found guilty of corruption.

The West Indies Cricket Board's decision to ban the batsman after finding he had illegally colluded with a bookmaker was rubber-stamped at an International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting on Tuesday.

Samuels, 27, was allegedly caught on tape by police passing match-related information on to a bookmaker during a series in India in February last year.

After the matter was picked up by the ICC's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit, the world governing body asked the WICB to conduct a probe under the terms of their code of conduct.

The offence carries a minimum two-year ban and the final length of punishment will now be determined by the ICC's code of conduct committee, with the suspension dated from May 9, when the original WICB hearing was completed.

ICC chief executive David Richardson said: "We are yet to see the whole judgment to put the matter of the punishment into its proper context but we note the WICB disciplinary committee found the player guilty and has imposed an immediate ban.

"In terms of the punishment handed down, minimum penalties were agreed by the ICC board, including all full members, and they reflect the seriousness of the issues at hand.

"Corruption is a serious matter, dealing with it effectively is fundamental to the integrity of our sport and this matter is a demonstration that its threat has not gone away.

"It is never pleasant when a player is banned but the process in arriving at this point has been an extremely thorough one and we hope the case serves as a reminder to players and officials to remain vigilant."

Jamaica batsman Samuels was disciplined for breaking a team curfew in 2002 and has also been suspended from bowling in internationals due to a suspect action.