Former West Indies cricketer, Marlon Samuels, is once again under the spotlight, but for all the wrong reasons. Samuels, who boasts a commendable international career with 11,134 runs and 152 wickets in his kitty, has been convicted on four counts under the Emirates Cricket Board's (ECB) Anti-Corruption Code. This development comes after a comprehensive hearing conducted by an independent Anti-Corruption Tribunal.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) flagged the violations in September 2021, acting in the capacity of the Designated Anti-Corruption Official under the said ECB Code. Samuels chose to challenge the charges and opted for a tribunal hearing. The result, however, didn't turn out in his favor.
"The Tribunal will now consider the submissions of each party before deciding on the appropriate sanction to be imposed. The decision will follow in due course," ICC said in a release.
As the tribunal gears up to decide the penalty for the West Indian player, a closer look at the charges against Samuels reveals:
1. Article 2.4.2 (by a majority decision) - 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 (unanimous decision) - 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 (unanimous decision) - Failing to cooperate with the Designated Anti-Corruption Official's investigation.
4. Article 2.4.7 (unanimous decision) - Obstructing or delaying the Designated Anti-Corruption Official's investigation by concealing information that may have been relevant to the investigation.
But this isn't Samuels' first brush with controversy. Rewind to 2008, and the cricketer faced a two-year ban. The reason? He was involved in leaking critical match details to a bookmaker during a West Indies series in 2007. This incident garnered substantial media attention, with renowned British publication, The Guardian, reporting about the ICC's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit intervening. They urged the West Indies Cricket Board to dive deep into the matter in line with their code of conduct.
While the cricket community awaits the tribunal's final decision on Samuels' fate, this incident serves as a stern reminder of the rigorous ethics and integrity expected from international athletes.
Notably, Samuels announced his retirement in November 2020, concluding a distinguished career that spanned 71 Tests, 207 ODIs, and 67 T20Is, amassing more than 11,000 runs and 17 hundreds in international cricket. Though his stats indicate he might not have fully realized his prodigious skill, his standout moments were unforgettable, especially when he remained the top scorer in the T20 World Cup finals of 2012 and 2016 to help West Indies clinch coveted titles on both occasions.
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