WEST Indies batsman Marlon Samuels was not able to make his long-awaited return to competitive action in this weekend’s round of matches in the Jamaican Super Cricket League after it was revealed his ban should end today, May 16 and not May 9, as was previously thought.

The right-handed batting stylist was banned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in May 2008, after he was found guilty of breaching their code of conduct, while on tour with the regional team.

The 29-year-old Samuels, who has scored two hundreds in 29 Tests, was expected to suit up for the Melbourne Kangaroos against the Kingston Tigers at Sabina Park in yesterday’s slate of second-round matches, but almost 200 fans at the ground were left disappointed.

An upset Melbourne manager Donald McNaughton told the Sunday Observer he had sought confirmation on Samuels’ status from almost a month ago to ensure the middle-order batsman would experience a smooth return to the game.

“I wrote to the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) on the 23rd of April 2010 asking for clarification on the date that Marlon Samuels will be eligible to represent Melbourne and start to play cricket again. They wrote back to me and told me that he would be eligible to play cricket anytime on or after May 9, 2010,” he said.

“Everything was in place for him to make his return against Kingston Cricket Club on May 15, but that did not materialise as on the 14th of May I got information through my club, from the JCA, saying that Marlon could not play because their understanding from the ICC is that the suspension took effect on the 16th of May.

“When I had asked for clarification, most of the correspondence went to the Cricket Operations department. I would think that when you’re going to find out something you would have been told when you asked for the clarification and not just the day before the game,” McNaughton added.

When the Sunday Observer contacted the JCA’s Cricket Operations Officer Courtney Francis, he said that at the time, his investigations led him to believe the suspension would have ended on May 9.

“My investigation at the time led me to respond to Melbourne that the expiry date of the ban would have been on May 9th. This meant that he would have been eligible to play thereafter,” Francis said.

Things, however, took another turn when Melbourne’s first vice-president Orette Fisher was contacted by JCA president Paul Campbell, who advised him the ban should actually end on May 16.

“I got a call from the JCA president on Friday morning. He said he was calling from Thursday and yes, I did see a missed call. He advised me that based on his checks with the West Indies Cricket Board and the ICC that Marlon’s ban would have been up on the 16th,” Fisher said.

“I called back Paul Campbell (to further clarify) and he said he was with a legal representative from the WICB and was advised that the hearing was held on the 9th and judgement was handed down on the 16th and the ban started from the time the judgement was handed down,” said Fisher.

The Sunday Observer did in fact get a hold of a letter addressed to the Melbourne Cricket Club, dated May 2010, confirming the alleged correction of the date.

The letter states: “Please note that the correct expiry date for his (Marlon Samuels) suspension is May 16, 2010 — the hearing was held on May 9, 2008; however, the judgement was handed down on May 16, 2008.

“We have been reliably informed that Marlon Samuels is scheduled to represent this weekend, and so as not to jeopardise his return to this wonderful game, suggest that the duration of his suspension be fulfilled, after which Marlon will be able to resume his playing career without difficulty.”

The letter is signed by Ian D Brown, acting Hon Secretary of the JCA. Attempts to contact Brown via his mobile phone proved futile, while Campbell is reportedly off the island.

Meanwhile, Samuels told this newspaper he remains in high spirits despite this minor setback to his return to the game.

“I have to take the disappointments as they come and move on. This is another obstacle for Marlon Samuels and I’m moving on and looking to train and play some hard cricket when the ban ends,” he said.

The talented batsman also had words of encouragement for his teammates at Melbourne.

“We just have to work with it (the ruling) and fight on,” he added.

Meanwhile, Melbourne ended the day on a strong 106-1 after dismissing Kingston for 276 just before tea time. The not out batsmen are John Ross Campbell (58) and Andre McCarty (25).

Earlier, late-order batsman Andrew Richardson (68) helped Kingston to their respectable total after they were wobbling at 129-6. Melbourne’s spinner Tafari Williams took 3-63, while pacer Jowayne Robinson snared 2-22.