WICB misses ICC deadline on Samuels bookie inquiry
The January 31, 2008 deadline for a WICB probe into allegations of inappropriate activity by West Indies middle order batsman Marlon Samuels has come and gone without a final decision by the regional board.
According to a WICB source, the ICC failed to hand over documentation on the allegations in a timely manner, leading to the delay in completing the internal investigation.
The WICB appointed a special investigator to handle the matter and, with ICC's consent and cooperation, a final report has been deferred until the end of February.
The WICB plans to discuss the investigator's findings at a board meeting in Antigua on February 24. After that, the ICC will be briefed and the matter will move to the next stage.
It is alleged that Samuels has breached the following ICC Code of Conduct Regulations:
Once the WICB probe is complete, the ICC will launch an Official Equiry that will comprise the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Commission and two Code of Conduct Commission Members not connected with the WICB.C 4 (ix) Received any money, benefit or other reward (whether financial or otherwise) which could bring him or the game of cricket into disrepute; and/or
C 4 (xiv) Has engaged in any conduct which, in the opinion of the (ICC) Executive Board... is prejudicial to the interests of the game of cricket
The Official Enquiry will review the findings of the WICB investigation and make recommendations to the Executive Board as to whether the investigation was carried out to the same standard that the Official Enquiry itself would have carried out such investigation and, if a sanction is applied by the WICB, whether it is appropriate given the nature of the conduct under investigation.