KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Marlon Samuels has been chosen in a 13-member Jamaica squad for the Pearl’s Cup to be contested in the United States this weekend.
The Jamaica Cricket Association announced on Wednesday that Samuels, whose two-year ban from the game ended last weekend, has been included in the side that will be led by Tamar Lambert.
The 29-year-old batsman, who also bowls off-spin, will play for the national team in a 50 overs-a-side match against an invitational side today, as well as Twenty20 games tomorrow and Sunday at the Central Broward Regional Park in Lauderhill, Florida.
He was found guilty of breaking International Cricket Council rules designed to stop players from betting on matches.
Two years ago, Indian police accused Samuels of giving out team information to a known bookie prior to the first One-day International between India and West Indies in Nagpur on January 21 that same year.
The police claimed they had taped telephone conversations between a bookmaker, Mukesh Kochchar, and Samuels, and a transcript was later.
After a hearing into the matter, the ICC enforced a mandatory ban on Samuels backdated from 9 May 2008 that kept him out of the game for two years.
Samuels has consistently denied any wrong-doing, and members of the West Indies Cricket Board panel, which investigated the matter, have publicly indicated that he was a little naïve in his dealings with Kochchar, and also bemoaned the harshness of the punishment.
A languid stroke-player, Samuels has played 29 Tests, 107 ODIs, and six Twenty20 Internationals for West Indies, since making his international debut at the tender age of 19 against Australia 10 years ago in Adelaide.
The JCA also disclosed that all-rounder David Bernard Jr was not included in the squad, since his visa request was turned down by the United States Embassy in Kingston.
Squad: Tamar Lambert (captain), Carlton Baugh Jr, Nkrumah Bonner, Bevon Brown, Shawn Findlay, Wavell Hinds, Danza Hyatt, Dean Morgan, Donovan Pagon, Andrew Richardson, Marlon Samuels, Krishmar Santokie, Gavin Wallace.
