Marlon Samuels: I did not support abandoning Indian tour

(Jamaica Gleaner) West Indies senior player Marlon Samuels said he was not in support of the decision to abandon the tour of India last Friday.

Speaking on PowerPlay on Power 106 FM, the Jamaican batsman said his focus was on playing cricket and as a result, he did not attend most of the meetings, which were organised by One-Day captain, Dwayne Bravo.

West Indies abandoned the tour after the fourth One-Day International (ODI) in Dharamsala.

The developments followed a protracted payment structure dispute between the players, the West Indies Cricket Board and West Indies Players’ Association.

According to Samuels, he was ready to go to Eden Garden to play the fifth ODI.

“(For) most of those meetings I was in my room ordering room services or on Skype talking with my kids as I had no time for those meetings and talking.

“I decided to do with talking with my cricket bat on the field as I went to India on a mission. It was all about cricket for me,” he said.

Marlon Samuels
Marlon Samuels

Samuels, who was recalled to the West Indies squad for the tour of India, emerged the best player for the Caribbean side with two centuries.

He started the series with a bang in Kochi, scoring a majestic 126 not out after the West Indies had failed to turn up for practice.

The Caribbean side won the match by 124 runs.

In the fourth ODI in Dharamsala he was the last man out for 112 as the West Indies suffered a 59-run defeat.