Former West Indies batsman Marlon Samuels has been handed a six-year ban from cricket by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for breaching the anti-corruption code.
The ICC’s decision comes after Samuels was found guilty of multiple charges related to his conduct during a limited-overs competition in the United Arab Emirates.
Samuels was found guilty of breaching four counts of the ICC’s anti-corruption code, primarily during his participation in the T10 League held in Abu Dhabi. The charges against him included failing to disclose any gifts, payments, hospitality, or benefits that could tarnish his reputation.
Additionally, Samuels was found to have received hospitality with a value exceeding $750 (£600) without proper disclosure. He also faced allegations of non-cooperation with an anti-corruption official and withholding information relevant to the investigation.
Sanction imposed by ICC
The ICC’s integrity unit manager, Alex Marshall, emphasized that Samuels had participated in international cricket for nearly two decades and had received extensive anti-corruption education during his career. Despite being retired at the time of the sanctions, Samuels was held accountable for offenses committed during his active participation. The six-year ban is intended to serve as a strong deterrent to other participants who may contemplate violating the rules.
This is not the first time Samuels has faced anti-corruption-related issues. In 2008, he received a two-year ban from the ICC for transmitting match-related information to an Indian bookmaker through a recorded conversation during West Indies’ ODI series in India the previous year. Despite this setback, Samuels made a successful comeback in 2011 and continued representing West Indies in Test cricket until 2016, and limited-overs internationals for an additional two years.
Impressive cricket career
Samuels had a prolific international cricket career, making his debut for West Indies in 2000 at the age of 19. He played a total of 71 Test matches, 207 ODIs, and 67 Twenty20 internationals, amassing over 11,000 runs in international cricket. One of his career highlights was a remarkable 56-ball 78 in the World T20 final against Sri Lanka in 2012, which played a pivotal role in West Indies winning the title.
The six-year ban marks a significant chapter in Samuels’ cricketing journey, reminding participants of the stringent measures in place to maintain the integrity of the sport and deter any potential violations of the anti-corruption code.
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