WICB CEO saddened by guilty verdict on Samuels

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC)

West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) chief executive officer, Dr Donald Peters, says he is saddened by the guilty verdict on batsman Marlon Samuels over his link with an Indian bookmaker.

Punished for violating International Cricket Council (ICC) rules, Samuels was banned for two years from all forms of cricket.

Dr Peters believes it is a sad day for West Indies cricket and thinks that Samuels fell into a trap.

"We in the Caribbean are unfamiliar with match fixing, while it is alive and well in other countries. To lose such a young and talented player through connections with a bookmaker is very sad for West Indies cricket," he said.

"When you look at it, he seems to have fallen into a trap, which is unfortunate," he added.

Dr Peters also expressed hope that the 27-year-old Jamaican will be able to overcome the huge blow and resuscitate his career when the time comes.

Hope for a return

"I am very moved that we have lost Samuels for two years and I hope that he comes back from this and resumes his career," Dr Peters said.

The WICB stated in a press release Monday that their Disciplinary Committee found by "majority opinion" at a hearing Friday that Samuels was guilty of violating the ICC Rules of Conduct 4 (ix) in that he "received money, benefit or other reward which could bring him or the game of cricket into disrepute".

The panel chaired by Justice Adrian Saunders and including Dr Lloyd Barnett, Professor Aubrey Bishop and former Test captain Richie Richardson, has written to the WICB president, Dr Julian Hunte, suggesting their punishment should not be so harsh, given very favourable affidavits submitted by reputable persons about the Jamaican's character.

The matter is now before the ICC and according to Dr Peters, they are more than likely not going to re-open the case.

"The ICC will look at the matter to see whether due process was given to the matter. We have taken 14 months to deal with it and hence, I think they would find that due process was given in the matter. We have covered all areas and have looked at everything and the panel has conformed to the ICC rules."

Under the ICC rules, Samuels cannot appeal the decision.

The ICC will review the WICB's Disciplinary Committee findings to ascertain whether the punishment is sufficient and make any recom-mendation necessary to the ICC Board's July meeting in Dubai.