Samuels denies allegations

The cricketing world has been rocked by allegations that young West Indian batsman Marlon Samuels, had been in contact with an Indian bookmaker during his sides recent tour of India.

Indian police claim they have recordings of conversations between the two parties.

“We have recorded information that Samuels leaked important team information to Kochar from his hotel room in five telephone calls on January 20 and 21,” said Amitesh Kumar, the deputy police commissioner in Nagpur.

“Kochar is a known associate of underworld figure Dawood Ibrahim.

“The Nagpur police has informed both the Board of Control for Cricket in India and the International Cricket Council of the matter.

“We also do not have evidence if any financial commitment was made. All I will say is the link between the player and the bookie is a violation of the ICC Code of Conduct for players.”

The match in question is the first ODI between India and West Indies where India won by 14 runs with Samuels scoring 40 runs off 60 balls.

BCCI vice-president, Rajiv Shukla, has said the Indian cricket board will cooperate with any investigations on the matter.

“The BCCI will cooperate in the investigations. Since it is involving a foreign player, it is a very sensitive issue and needs to be handled carefully,” he said.

West Indies Cricket Board spokesman, Tony Deyal, said that an internal investigation would be launched, but the board would not jump to any forgone conclusions.

“We are not going to act on rumour or gossip and will not be panicked. Particularly since we are talking about career and future of a young cricketer of talent and promise,” he said.

Meanwhile, Samuels has hit back at the allegations, telling the Times of India “I don’t do such things, man.”

“I have not done anything wrong,” he said.

“The West Indies Cricketers’ Association will take up the matter if necessary.”