(Cricket News) After being found guilty of corrupt behaviour during the 2019 Abu Dhabi T10, in which he was a member of the Karnataka Tuskers but did not play, former West Indies batter Marlon Samuels has been banned from all cricket for six years by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Samuels was found guilty on four counts, including accepting favours that brought himself and the game into disrepute and concealing information from the investigating authorities. Fifteen years prior, he had been punished for a similar offence.

Though he is retired now, Mr. Samuels was a participant when the offenses were committed, and the six-year ban will act as a strong deterrent to any participant who intends to break the rules. Alex Marshall, the head of the ICC’s HR and Integrity Unit, stated that Samuels played international cricket for nearly two decades, during which time he participated in numerous anti-corruption sessions and knew exactly what his obligations were under the Anti-Corruption Codes.”

Samuels, who top-scored for the West Indies in both the 2012 and 2016 T20 World Cup finals, last played for his country in 2018 and announced his retirement in November 2020 after amassing over 11,000 international runs across all formats.

Samuels’ career was not without controversy, with the lowest point being his two-year ban after being found guilty in May 2008 of “receiving money, or benefit or other reward that could bring him or the game of cricket into disrepute.” His ban is set to take effect on November 11, 2023.

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