KINGSTON, Jamaica — West Indies cricketer Marlon Samuels will be receiving a full apology and undisclosed "substantial damages", after successfully suing former Australian cricketer Geoff Lawson and broadcaster 2KY for defamation.

The apology to Samuela is due for broadcast on air at a time to be agreed.

Samuels instructed his lawyers Richard Owen-Thomas and Suzette A Thompson in London after defamatory comments were made about him on the Big Sports Breakfast radio programme on April 4 last year.

During the radio podcast Lawson made erroneous, malicious unjustifiable comments accusing Samuels of being involved with criminal gangs in Jamaica.

London based barrister Thompson in a release said "These comments were published and aired without proper journalist research, nor was Samuels contacted to give his views on the damaging remarks about his character.  We are delighted that Lawson and the Big Sports Breakfast radio have now settled and are issuing a full apology and agreed to pay substantial damages to Marlon".

Samuels said: "Through this case, my intention was not only to defend my integrity and image as an international cricketer, but also the values I have defended all my career.

“I also wish to avoid any public figure from making insulting or false allegations against an athlete using the media, without any evidence or foundation and to go unpunished."