SAMUELS. has been charged and the matter referred to the disciplinary committee

Embattled West Indies cricketer Marlon Samuels faces another tough period in his checkered career after news broke that the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has found sufficient evidence to charge him for misconduct following an internal investigation into bribery allegations.

WICB director, Jackie Hendriks, who is also the president of the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA), supported statements made by WICB spokesman Tony Deyal, who was quoted on caribbeancricket.com that Samuels "has been charged and the matter referred to the disciplinary committee".

"There are certain charges that have been brought, that he (Samuels) has to answer in front of the disciplinary committee of the board," Hendriks confirmed yesterday to Sporting World.

Further details were not forthcoming, but Hendriks did reveal, however, that there are "two charges" being laid against Samuels, who, earlier this week, was barred from bowling after the International Cricket Council (ICC) deemed his action to be illegal. He has a right to appeal the decision, but has not yet done so.

In the same week that Samuels' elbow flexion was proven to have exceeded the range allowed by the ICC, his case involving allegations that he provided team information to alleged bookie Mukesh Kochar, has taken a new twist.

On the eve of the first One-Day International between the West Indies and India in Nagpur on January 21, 2007, the Nagpur Police had reported that Samuels sent team information to Kochar, whom the West Indian identified as a family friend of many years.

Both Samuels and Kochar maintain their innocence of any "inappropriate activity".

But after 13 months of intense investigations, the 27-year-old batsman is now forced to defend himself in front of the WICB's code of ethics and disciplinary committee chaired by Justice Adrian Saunders and includes Professor Aubrey Bishop, Dr Lloyd Barnett and player-representatives - Richie Richardson and Courtney Walsh.

Last year, cricket's world governing body had asked the WICB to conduct its own inquest, after its anti-corruption and security unit completed its findings into the matter.

Derek Jones, a renowned regional attorney in one of the Caribbean's largest law firms - Myers, Fletcher & Gordon, is the man who led the internal investigation on behalf of the WICB.

However, what was supposed be an investigation, turned out to be just a review of the findings by the anti-corruption and security unit, Jones pointed out during an interview with Sporting World yesterday.

"The documentation came from the ICC and I have to review it," said Jones, who served as a senior legal counsel at the ICC Cricket World Cup West Indies 2007.

"I have not done what I would regard as 'carry out investigations'. I certainly have been involved in a review process," he stated.

As it relates to what the findings were, Jones said the disciplinary committee is the appropriate medium to speak on the hot subject that's being dominating the airwaves here in the region.

Meanwhile, Samuels, who did not travel with the Jamaica team for their Carib Beer match in Trinidad and Tobago, has been granted the "match off" by the JCA, Hendriks confirmed.
When the team departed on Tuesday, JCA officials stated that the player will miss the fourth round match due to "personal reasons".

Tastee Talent Trail finalists prepare for the big night

Are You Afraid Of Your Financial Future?

Good support in Bounty Hall for Heineken's 'Bond' road show