Samuels ban remains

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has accepted the two-year ban slapped on West Indies batsman Marl on Samuels.



In a statement following the conclusion of its annual conference yesterday, the ICC said it had reviewed the decision by the West Indies Cricket Board’s (WICB) disciplinary committee and had found it appropriate.



Samuels was slapped with a two-year ban after being found guilty of having an appropriate relationship with an Indian bookmaker.



Since the judgement was handed down earlier this year, there has been criticism in some quarters that the two-year ban had been unnecessarily harsh.



Former West Indies captain, Richie Richardson, who sat on the disciplinary committee, subsequently criticised the ICC’s regulations governing the punishment.



It was also reported that lawyers representing Samuels planned to challenge the ruling.