HENDRIKS. that's the ruling of the committee and there's nothing much we can do about it

Jackie Hendriks, president of the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA), has described the guilty verdict handed down against Marlon Samuels as "disappointing and unfortunate".

Samuels, 27, a talented West Indies middle-order batsman, was found guilty by the disciplinary committee of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) following a hearing on Friday.
With a majority vote of 3-1, Samuels was found guilty of violating article 4 (ix) of the ICC Rules and Conduct that states: "Received any money, benefit or other reward (whether financial or otherwise) which could bring him or the game of cricket into disrepute."

The penalty carries a minimum mandatory sentence of two years.

Upon hearing the news, Hendriks was understanding of the decision handed by the panel chaired by Caribbean judge Justice Adrian Saunders, Professor Aubrey Bishop, Dr Lloyd Barnett and player representative Richie Richardson.
"Marlon must be terribly disappointed. It must be a bad thing to be banned for two years, especially for a fellow who has been sort of a standout where our cricket is concerned," Hendriks, who is a WICB director, told the Observer yesterday.

"I find it very disappointing and unfortunate. But that's the ruling of the committee and there's nothing much we can do about it," he said.

As it relates to the ban, Hendriks said he was uncertain if it includes "all cricket under the aegis" of the regional and world governing bodies.

But ICC media manager Brian Murgatroyd, replying to an Observer query, said: "My understanding of the ban is that it extends to all cricket classed as official and unofficial, that is international and under the auspices of ICC Member boards."

This means Samuels, who was recently banned from bowling by the ICC, has been disqualified from playing the game at any ICC-sanctioned level at least for the next two years.

Meanwhile, Hendriks informed the Observer that the JCA will need to look at ways to assist the player during his time of isolation from the game. And with the JCA holding its regular executive meeting today, it will be a priority topic at the meeting, he said.

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