ICC mess up Marlon Samuels' case
West Indies bowler Marlon Samuels who was abandoned from bowling due to his bowling action coming under scanner was allowed to bowl in the second ODI against Sri Lanka as the ICC made a judgmental error, reports ESPNCricinfo.
The ICC said the exception was made because "the West Indies team was incorrectly advised that he was eligible to bowl in this match", and that West Indies had "selected the team based on this information." After this match "Samuels will not be allowed to bowl in international cricket until the results of his assessment are known," an ICC release said.
On Wednesday, the West Indies management expressed concern after being told Samuels was not allowed to bowl only after the match had begun. They said match referee David Boon had conveyed to them that the second ODI would be played inside the 21-day grace period afforded to reported bowlers.
However, following a rule change this year, that grace period had been shortened to 14 days, which meant Samuels' grace period had already expired. The West Indies management said, unaware of the rule, they went ahead on the match referee’s word and allowed Samuels’ to bowl.
As per the previous ruling, Samuels will not be allowed to bowl in international cricket until the results of his bowling assessment are known.
Lanka win series 2-0
The hosts Sri Lanka comprehensively defeated the West Indies by 8 wickets to clinch the 3 ODI series, with an unassailable 2-0 lead. Incidentally, Samuels skippered West Indies in the second ODI, which too was affected was affected by rain.
Fast bowler Lasith Malinga was pick of the bowlers in the contest with a match-winning figure of 2/43. The visitors chose to bat first having won the toss, but they got off to a shaky start.
Dwayne Bravo (21) and Charles’ (83) 70-run stand steadied the Carib ship. Samuels (63) too shone with the bat, but his efforts were not enough as Kusal Perera (99) and Lahiru Thiramanne (81) guided the home side to a 8-wicket win to clinch the series.
The third and final ODI of the series will take place on Saturday at Pallekele, before playing out two T20’s next week.