WICB to charge Samuels with bookie-related misconduct
by RYAN NARAINE
Marlon Samuels' troubles with cricket authorities have just gotten worse.
According to well-placed sources, an internal West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) investigation into bribery allegations against the middle order batsman has found there is enough evidence to charge him with misconduct.
Deyal declined to elaborate on the exact reading of the charge or details of the internal investigation, which was carried out by Jamaican attorney Derek Jones.
Jones, a partner in the high-profile law firm of Myers, Fletcher & Gordon, presented a report to the WICB board meeting in Antigua last weekend recommending the charge.
According to Deyal, the WICB's code of ethics and disciplinary committee (which is chaired by Justice Adrian Saunders) will conduct a hearing as soon as possible.
In addition to Saunders, the committee is made up for Professor Aubrey Bishop, Dr Lloyd Barnett and two players representatives -- Courtney Walsh and Richie Richardson.
"We are working on getting copies of all the documents to the committee so they can read them and call a hearing," Deyal said.
Samuels has already been notified of the WICB decision to bring formal charges and has been given copies of all the relevant documentation.
The Jamaican right-hander was fingered for playing part in fixing the first One Day International between India and the West Indies in Nagpur on January 21, 2007. The allegations led to the ICC asking the WICB to conduct an investigation.
Excerpts of what appears to be a telephone conversation between Samuels and alleged bookie Mukesh Kochchar have been posted on the Internet, detailing vital match information being leaked by the batsman.
Media reports at the time said Samuels was accused of leaking information like pitch conditions, the West Indies batting order and team strategies.
Several cricketers close to Samuels say the player and Kochchar have been friends for years and any conversation over team issues would have been general chit-chat among friends and not related to match fixing.
"If Marlon is guilty of anything, it's maybe being naive," one player said.
Earlier this week, Samuels was suspended from bowling in international cricket after independent analysis of his bowling action revealed that his off-break and fast deliveries exceeded the 15 degrees level of tolerance permitted under regulations.