MARLON SAMUELS: likely to be suspended.

GUILTY!

That's the verdict handed down on Jamaica and West Indies batsman Marlon Samuels, over his reported involvement with an Indian bookmaker during the West Indies' January 2007 tour to India.

Yesterday in a Press release, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) said its Disciplinary Committee found by "majority opinion" that Samuels had violated the International Cricket Council's (ICC) Rules of Conduct 4 (ix) in that he "received money, benefit or other reward which could bring him or the game of cricket into disrepute".

The violation carries a minimum two-year ban but the panel has written to WICB president Dr Julian Hunte, suggesting the punishment should not be so harsh, given very favourable affidavits submitted by reputable persons about the Jamaican's character.

The panel, which comprised chairman Mr Justice Adrian Saunders, Dr Lloyd Barnett, Professor Aubrey Bishop and former West Indies captain Richie Richardson, suggested a suspended sentence, rather than a ban, would be a more appropriate action.

Unchallenged evidence

"Given the circumstances that attended Mr Samuels' commission of the offence and in light of the unchallenged evidence we received as to Mr Samuels' character, if we had the power so to recommend, we would have recommended that Mr Samuels be bound over to be of good behaviour for a period not exceeding two years," the committee stated.

The WICB release indicated that the four-man panel dismissed a second charge against Samuels related to the Rules of Conduct where his actions were deemed prejudicial to the interests of cricket.

The hearing came about after the ICC, the sport's world governing body, instructed the WICB to launch its own investigation into Samuels' alleged connections with the bookmaker.

After receiving a report from its Anti-corruption & Security Unit, the ICC said the report contained allegations that Samuels indulged in "inappropriate activity" and behaved in a manner that was "prejudicial to the interests of the game of cricket".

Taped by police

Phone conversations between Samuels and alleged Indian bookie Mukesh Kochchar were taped by the Nagpur police on the eve of the One-Day International between India and West Indies on January 21, 2007. Media reports at the time accused Samuels of leaking information about pitch conditions, the West Indies batting order and team strategies.

Samuels denied any wrongdoing but following an internal WICB investigation into bribery allegations, the regional cricket body found there was enough evidence to charge him with misconduct.

According to ICC rules, there is no appeal allowed over a ruling on this matter. (WG/CMC)