Samuels ruled ineligible by Jamaica

Marlon Samuels, who was left out of Jamaica's squad for their opening game of the regional Professional Cricket League, is reportedly ineligible to play in the revamped Caribbean first-class competition due to breaching Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) rules on selection.

According to JCA chief executive Courtney Francis, Samuels has not met the requirement of playing in 80% of national competitions. Acceptable reasons for absence include being on international duty but Samuels was dropped by West Indies earlier this year, although he returned for the ODI series in India, which was curtailed by a dispute over player payments.

"He is not qualified to represent Jamaica in the upcoming regional first-class tournament," Francis told the Jamaica Gleaner. "This is on the basis that he is in breach of the JCA's selection policy.

"He needs to play 80% or more national competitions, or otherwise give an acceptable reason for his absence. This includes being on West Indies duties, or provide evidence that he is injured and cannot take part in national competitions.

"He got dropped for the New Zealand and Bangladesh series and was supposed to turn out for Melbourne during the [two-day] Senior Cup and he did not."

Samuels was not among the 13 players named last week for Jamaica's opening four-day match against Windward Islands, beginning on Friday at Sabina Park. It is not clear whether he could still play a part in the 2014-15 competition, which is to be played through November-December and February-March.

According to the newspaper, section 1.1 of the JCA selection policy states: "As part of the JCA's commitment to Regional and International cricket, the player must participate in local cricket when not representing Jamaica, the West Indies or any other competition sanctioned by the JCA, the WICB, or, the ICC."

Samuels was a member of the West Indies squad who abandoned their tour of India last month, although the 33-year-old Jamaican said he was not party to the stand-off between the WICB, the West Indies Players' Association (WIPA) and the team. WIPA president Wavell Hinds is also head of the Jamaica selection panel, which includes Robert Haynes, Delroy Morgan, Wayne Lewis, and Cleveland Davidson.