The double T20 World Cup winner is found guilty of breaching four counts of the anti-corruption code for offences committed during the Abu Dhabi T10 in 2019
Retired West Indies international Marlon Samuels has been banned from all cricket for six years by the ICC for breaking anti-corruption rules.
An independent anti-corruption tribunal found the 42-year-old guilty of four breaches, one by majority decision and the remaining three unanimously, in August.
The ban, which relates to Samuels' actions around the Abu Dhabi T10 in 2019 when he was a non-playing member of the Karnataka Tuskers squad, begins on November 11, 2023.
"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," said Alex Marshall, general manager of the HR and integrity unit.
"Though he is retired now, Mr Samuels was a participant when the offences were committed. The ban of six years will act as a strong deterrent to any participant who intends to break the rules."
Samuels was part of two West Indies T20 World Cup wins (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
The offences committed by Samuels four years ago include:
- 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.
- Article 2.4.3: Failing to disclose to the Designated Anti-Corruption Official receipt of hospitality with a value of US $750 (£600) or more.
- Article 2.4.6: Failing to cooperate with the Designated Anti-Corruption Official’s investigation.
- 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.
The written reasons accompanying the decision revealed that the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) were pushed for a 10-year ban for Samuels, though they were unsuccessful.
Mohammad Saifuddin bowled Samuels in the third ODI in Sylhet in his final international appearance (MUNIR UZ ZAMAN/AFP via Getty Images)
However, due to the ex-Windies batter's failure to fully co-operate with the case, which included a refusal to hand over his mobile phone, the panel felt forced to consider "top-end" punishments.
Though out of the game since 2018, the panel declared the lengthy reprimand "will prevent him from" occupying a future role in the game for the forseeable future while acting as "a deterrent effect on the younger players who would know the serious consequences of such behaviour".
In May 2008, Samuels was banned for two years after being found guilty by the West Indies Cricket Board's disciplinary committee of breaching the ICC's Code of Conduct for "receiving money, or benefit or other reward that could bring him or the game of cricket into disrepute".
But he made a successful return to the sport, winning two men's T20 World Cups with West Indies in 2012 and 2016 as their top run-scorer.
Across a truncated 11-year international career he played 71 Tests, 207 ODIs and 67 T20Is.
Responding to confirmation of the sentence, Samuels compiled a lengthy post on Instagram which included criticism of the ICC, supportive comments from his followers and highlights from his innings in the 2012 World T20 final against Sri Lanka in Colombo.
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