The International Cricket Council (ICC) banned former West Indies batter Marlon Samuels from cricket for six years.
Samuels’ ban follows a decision by an independent tribunal, investigating charges issued by the ICC in 2021. The offenses relate to the 2019 Abu Dhabi T10, when Samuels received $3,000 for business class travel that a majority of the tribunal felt “was both given and received with a corrupt motive.” Samuels, was picked by the Karnataka Tuskers for the event but subsequently did not play in the event.
In August, the tribunal found Samuels guilty of four offences under the anti-corruption code. The offenses include the breach of two articles relating to the failure to disclose the receipt of payment or hospitality and two articles relating to the failure to co-operate with the anti-corruption investigation.
Second ban for Samuels
This was not the first time Samuels ran afoul of the ICC. In 2008, Samuels was banned from cricket for two years for passing information to a bookmaker, “receiving money, or benefit or other reward that could bring him or the game of cricket into disrepute.” Samuels came back from that ban with renewed commitment, becoming the first player to receive two Player of The Final awards in ICC World T20 history.
Samuels’ ban takes effect on Nov. 11. Samuels, who represented the West Indies in all three formats, officially retired in 2020. So, the ban can be viewed more as a deterrent to others than a punishment.
Samuels isn’t the only person charged with violating anti-corruption codes during the 2019 Abu Dhabi T10. In September, the ICC charged eight other players, officials, and team owners with anti-corruption violations. Some of the charges against the eight include more serious breaches, including attempted match-fixing. Six of those charged - Krishan Kumar Chaudhary, Parag Sanghvi, Azhar Zaidi, Rizwan Javed, Saliya Saman and Sunny Dhillon - have been provisionally suspended.
