- Marlon Samuels has been banned from cricket for six years
- The all-rounder violated four points of the anti-corruption code
- Famous was involved in a testy exchange with Shane Warne
Shane Warne’s bitter rival Marlon Samuels has been banned from all cricket for six years after the former West Indies star breached four points of the ICC’s anti-corruption code.
The charges against Samuels, who has not played for the West Indies since 2018, relate to the T10 League in Abu Dhabi, the International Cricket Council said when the charges were filed in 2021.
Samuels was found guilty in August of failing to disclose “the receipt of a gift, payment, hospitality or other benefit” that might discredit him, as well as the receipt of hospitality valued at $750 or more.
The ICC also said Samuels failed to cooperate with an anti-corruption official and concealed information that may have been relevant to the investigation.
“Samuels played international cricket for almost two decades, during which he took part in countless anti-corruption sessions and knew exactly what his obligations were under the anti-corruption codes,” said Alex Marshall, the manager of the International Cricket Council’s integrity unit. statement announcing the sanction on Thursday.
“Although now retired, Mr Samuels was a participant when the offenses were committed. The six-year ban will be a powerful deterrent to any participant who intends to break the rules.”
In 2008, Samuels was handed a two-year ban by the ICC after he was caught on tape passing match-related information to an Indian bookmaker during the West Indies’ ODI series in India the previous year.
He made a strong comeback in 2011 and continued to play test cricket until 2016, and limited-over internationals for another two years.
Samuels made his Test and ODI debut for the West Indies in 2000 at the age of 19.
He played 71 Tests, 207 ODIs and 67 Twenty20 internationals and amassed more than 11,000 runs in international cricket. His highlight was a 56-ball 78 in the World T20 final against Sri Lanka in 2012 to help the West Indies win the title.
Among Australian cricket fans, Samuels is best known for his angry altercation with spin king Warne during the Big Bash League in 2013.
In a match between the Melbourne Stars and Melbourne Renegades, Warne vented his anger on Samuels after donning David Hussey’s shirt while trying to run between wickets earlier in the match.
‘Do you want to grab some more people? F*** you, mate,” Warne was heard saying during the conversation.
The rift was still there for all to see in 2020, when Samuels launched an explosive tirade against Warne and England captain Ben Stokes on Instagram.
Stokes jokingly said he wouldn’t wish a fourteen-day quarantine on his worst enemy, specifically mentioning Samuels.
Samuel’s shocking response read: ‘No white boy can diss me in sports and no diss, look at this motherfucker still thinking about me.
‘Give me a fortnight while your wife becomes har [sic] in Jamaican in 14 seconds mate.
‘None of you know me so simple means it’s my damn superior skin color that you all hate, f*** you.’
Warne expressed his condolences for Samuels and said the former all-rounder needs help.
Warne tweeted: “I just received what Samuels posted on @benstokes38 & I.
‘It’s a very sad situation because he clearly needs serious help, but he has no friends at all and even his ex-teammates don’t like him.
“Just because you were an ordinary cricketer, you don’t have to be an ordinary person. Get help son.”