By IANS,
Dubai : The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed the decision of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB)’s Disciplinary Committee banning Marlon Samuels for two years on charges of match fixing.
Samuels was found guilty of offence C4 (IX) of the ICC Code of Conduct, namely that he “received any money, benefit or other reward (whether financial or otherwise) which could bring him or the game of cricket into disrepute”.
“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,” said ICC acting Chief Executive Officer David Richardson said.
“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,” he said.
The matter investigated took place during the West Indies’ tour of India in January 2007 following allegations that the player had passed on match information ahead of the ODI in Nagpur Jan 21 and then received payment for a hotel stay in Mumbai at the end of the tour.
The report was reviewed by Chairman of the ICC Code of Conduct Commission Michael Beloff QC, his review went before the ICC Board at its October 2007 meeting. The Board instructed the WICB to carry out its own investigation and convene a Disciplinary Committee to ascertain the player’s guilt or otherwise.
An Official enquiry made up of Beloff and two other ICC Code of Conduct Commissioners will review the WICB Disciplinary Committee finding to ascertain whether the punishment is sufficient and make any recommendation necessary to the ICC Board’s July meeting in Dubai