Hint of ICC nod

An International Cricket Council (ICC) official hinted last night that a West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) request to have Marlon Samuels reinstated in the team for the imminent World Cup could be ratified.

"It's outside the current provisions to allow a player who has been taken out of the squad to come back into it, but it's not to say the procedures wouldn't be flexible," said media manager Mark Harrison.

He was speaking by telephone from Cape Town while confirming the ICC's receipt of the formal WICB application.

He said the letter from WICB acting chief executive Roger Brathwaite was with David Richardson, the former South African wicket-keeper who is the ICC's cricket manager.

"We're considering the position with some urgency, given the imminence of the tournament and that the West Indies play the first match Sunday, and obviously will let the WICB know as quickly as possible," he said.

Harrison pointed out that the matter would go to the World Cup technical committee for the final decision but said it did not require a full meeting of the committee.

The WICB set out their position in Brathwaite's letter and telephone communication between president Wes Hall and Malcolm Speed, the ICC's chief executive who also heads the World Cup technical committee.

Samuels, the 22-year-old right-handed batsman and off-spinner, was an original choice in the squad of 15 but was withdrawn by the selectors January 25 and replaced by left-handed all-rounder Ryan Hinds following a report on his injured knee by Dr Askhai Mansingh of the WICB's medical panel.

He was passed fit to participate in the tournament last Monday night after subsequent examinations in the United States by specialists Dr Ainsworth Allen and Dr Michael Mount.

The WICB's appeal noted that the memorandum setting out the technical committee's policy on player replacement had not been issued until January 28, two days after Samuels' original withdrawal.

"It is entirely conceivable that had the full rules of the engagement been available at the time when the WICB had to make the decision on Marlon Samuels, a different conclusion may have been reached," it stated.

Citing the ICC's reference to Clause 5.4 of the memorandum in answer to an earlier inquiry on the matter, the WICB stated: "We submit that no West Indies player has yet competed in the tournament and, therefore, the reference in the clause to taking further part in the tournament, is not applicable."

The WICB also alluded to the "leeway provided to other teams in the World Cup who have experienced difficulties in meeting deadlines and requirements in what is a new and evolving environment".

India submitted their final team two weeks after the ICC's stated deadline following disagreements with its players over segments of the ICC World Cup contract.

Even if the ICC agrees to allow Samuels back in the team, it would be virtually impossible for him to get to Cape Town and be match-ready for Sunday's contest against South Africa that inaugurates the tournament.

Hall has already said that if Hinds is replaced he would be given the option of remaining on as a fully-paid, non-playing member of the squad or returning to the Caribbean to play for Barbados in the current regional Carib Beer Series.