Former West Indies cricketer Marlon Samuels has been banned from all cricket for six years after being found guilty of breaching the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) anti-corruption code. The ban commenced on November 11, 2023.
Samuels was charged by the ICC - in their capacity as the Designated Anti-Corruption Official under the ECB Code - on a total of four charges in September 2021 and then found guilty of the offenses in August this year.
The four charges Samuels was found guilty of are listed as:
1. Article 2.4.2 - Failing to disclose to the Designated Anti-Corruption Official, the receipt of any gift, payment, hospitality, or other benefit that was made or given in circumstances that could bring the Participant or the sport of cricket into disrepute.
2. Article 2.4.3 - Failing to disclose to the Designated Anti-Corruption Official receipt of hospitality with a value of US $750 or more.
3. Article 2.4.6 - Failing to cooperate with the Designated Anti-Corruption Official's investigation.
4. Article 2.4.7 - Obstructing or delaying the Designated Anti-Corruption Official's investigation by concealing information that may have been relevant to the investigation.
"Samuels played international cricket for close to two decades, during which he participated in numerous anti-corruption sessions and knew exactly what his obligations were under the Anti-Corruption Codes.
Though he is retired now, Mr. Samuels was a participant when the offenses were committed. The ban of six years will be a strong deterrent to any participant who intends to break the rules," Alex Marshall, the head of ICC's HR and Integrity Unit, said.
Samuels played more than 300 matches for the West Indies in an 18-year career, scoring 17 centuries in total and even captaining the Caribbean side at the ODI level. He was part of West Indies’ two T20 World Cup wins in 2012 and 2016.
(ICC inputs)
