Samuels Wins ICC World Cup Approval

Finally, after a controversy-filled week full of doctors, lawyers and media-driven acrimony, Marlon Samuels has been cleared to travel to South Africa for the World Cup.

The ICC technical committee gave its approval Friday for the classy Jamaican batsman to rejoin the West Indies 15-man squad. Samuels will leave Jamaica on Friday evening and is due to arrive in South Africa on Sunday morning.

The travel plans mean he can be considered for selection in the final eleven for the opening day-night match against South Africa but it is unlikely he will play without any exposure to the conditions.

Ryan Hinds, Samuels' replacement when he was withdrawn from the squad a fortnight ago, will return to the Caribbean to represent Barbados in the Carib Beer 2003 Cricket Series and is likely to depart South Africa no later than Monday.

Sources tell CaribbeanCricket.com that Hinds will be paid by the WICB even though he opted to return home for the regional tournament. Hinds was offered the option of staying with the team in South Africa during the World Cup but decided it was better if he returned to the Caribbean to play first class cricket.