Marlon Samuels ... linked to Indian bookmaker. - File

ST. JOHN'S, Antigua (CMC):

WEST INDIES batsman Marlon Samuels will know the outcome of a special investigator's probe into his alleged links with an Indian bookie before the end of the month.

Tony Deyal, corporate secretary of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), said the special investigator's probe has already been completed. "The investigator has submitted a final report to the WICB, and it will be considered when the directors meet on February 24," Deyal told the CMC Sports Wire yesterday.

"The investigation has been completed, but the directors will have to consider the findings of the report, and then determine if there is enough evidence to warrant a hearing of the disciplinary committee," he said.

Last October, the International Cricket Council (ICC), the sport's world governing body, had asked the WICB to investigate Samuels after it received a report from its anti-corruption and security unit.

In a news release which the ICC highlighted the report contained allegations that Samuels indulged in 'inappropriate activity' and behaved in a manner that was 'prejudicial to the interests of the game of cricket'.

Deadline

The WICB had been given a deadline of January 31 to submit the results of the investigation.

"The ICC is fully aware of what we are doing," Deyal said. "We have kept them informed every step of the way and they know how we have conducted this investigation. We are working together with them to resolve this matter."

On February 7 last year, Nagpur police had charged Samuels with sending team information to Mukesh Kochar, an alleged bookie, on the eve of the first one-day international against India on January 21.

Samuels has since strongly defended himself. He noted he had known the man for many years and he was a family friend.

The investigation has not prevented Samuels from playing international matches, and he returned to the Caribbean with West Indies on Monday from South Africa, where he was the most prolific batsman in the three-Test series on either side.

Samuels scored 314 runs at an average of 52.33 including his second Test hundred of 105 in the third and final Test at Durban.