Kolkata: West Indies batsman Marlon Samules, who was adjudged man of the match for his stupendous 66-ball 85 in WT20 final, sat with his feet on the table while he still had his pads on during the post match press conference on Sunday.
Minutes earlier, he had planted his drenched body on a couch outside the press conference room.
Half-an-hour earlier the overcharged right hander was taking his shirt off, and making an angry march towards the English dug-out. It required close to five of his teammates and coach Phil Simmons to pull him back.
The 35 year old took potshots at Australian legend Shane warne saying, "“I played a Test series in Australia (recently) and every day, Shane Warne has a problem with me,”
“I’ve never disrespected him.I don’t know. Maybe because my face is real and his face is not?” he said.
Samuels'comments came as a reaction to Aussie spin king criticism of Samuels for his performance in the West Indies’ World Twenty20 semi-final win over India last week.
Warne said Samuels was “embarrassing” and “pretty poor” after he was dismissed early in the Windies’ run chase.
“Well, this is a bit embarrassing for Marlon Samuels,” Warne said during his commentary of the match for Indian television.
Samuels also lambasted England all-rounder Ben Stokes whom Carlos Brathwaite in the ultimate over of the game smashed for four consecutive sixes to gift West Indies a four-wicket victory.
"Stokes is a nervous lad. I told Brathwaite to hold his pose and he will bowl a couple of full toss and as always it did work in our favour," Samuels said.
"He does not learn. I keep telling him whenever he plays against us, 'do not speak to me' because I am going to perform. He did not even face a ball and had so much to say today. He did that again. That's what I strive on. That is why I have been here for so long."
The 35-year-old said West Indies might not be a side which does well in One-Day Internationals or Tests, but in T20s they have been quite successful and therefore deserve respect.
"A lot of negative stuff, not just in the last couple of weeks but prior to that as well. We want to improve in Tests and One-Day cricket. We have been a force to reckon with in the T20 version. But still when we were coming into this tournament a lot of people were saying negative things. Now people should respect us and give credit to what we do," Samuels stated.
"We are a wonderful team and we play not for ourselves but for the Caribbean people. Cricket means the world to them just as cricket in India."
Speaking about the thrilling chase, where West Indies got over the line with just 2 balls to spare, Samuels quipped," I don't need to use much words to explain that. We have done it on many occasions. We believe in ourselves, we believe in each other. When the next player goes out to bat we believe he can get it done as well. So we stay calm and don't panic in any situation."
Samuels has been fined 30% of his match fee for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during his side's ICC World Tweny20 India 2016 final against England at Eden Gardens.
Samuels was found to have breached Article 2.1.4 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to "using language or a gesture that is obscene, offensive or insulting during an International Match".
The incident happened in the final over of West Indies' run-chase when Samuels used abusive and offensive language directed at Ben Stokes.
Samuels admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by Ranjan Madugalle of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees and, as such, there was no need for a formal hearing.
The charge were levelled by on-field umpires Kumar Dharmasena and Rod Tucker, third umpire Marais Erasmus and fourth umpire Bruce Oxenford, all from the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees.
For all first offences, Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand and a maximum penalty of 50% of a player's match feet.
