A THREE-MEMBER International Cricket Council (ICC) panel is to review the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) disciplinary committee's findings in the Marlon Samuels affair.

After the WICB committee found Samuels guilty of breaching the ICC's code of conduct for an offence that carries a minimum two-year ban, the game's governing body announced yesterday that an official enquiry will review the findings to ascertain whether the punishment is sufficient.

The committee, chaired by chairman of the ICC code of conduct commission Michael Beloff QC, will make its recommendation to the ICC's July board meeting in Dubai.

The WICB announced on Monday that Samuels was found guilty of offence C4 (ix) of the ICC Code of Conduct, namely that he "received any money, benefit or other reward [whether financial or otherwise] which could bring him or the game of cricket
into disrepute."

According to the ICC, any ban would include official cricket [Tests, ODIs, T20Is, first-class matches and limited-overs matches organised by or under the auspices of the ICC or its members] and unofficial cricket [cricket within an ICC member not falling into the above categories that is granted approval by either the ICC or the relevant board).

In reacting to the decision, ICC acting chief executive officer David Richardson said they were yet to see the whole judgment to put the matter of the punishment into its proper context but noted the WICB disciplinary committee found the player guilty and had imposed an immediate ban.

"In terms of the punishment handed down, minimum penalties were agreed by the ICC board, including all full members, and they reflect the seriousness of the issues at hand," Richardson said.
(HG)