Kingston (Jamaica), Mar 1: Fearing arrest in India, West Indies batsman Marlon Samuels, who was banned for two years for passing information to bookmakers, reportedly refused to replace injured Dwayne Bravo in the country's World Cup squad.
According to a report in 'The Trinidad Express', the batsman feared being arrested in India which is the co-host of the mega-event along with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
"Apparent concern over what might await him should he return to India has reportedly caused Marlon Samuels to decline selection for the current World Cup as replacement for the injured Dwayne Bravo," the newspaper reported.
Guyana leg-spinner Davendra Bishoo replaced Bravo ultimately and when contacted the West Indies Cricket Board corporate communications officer Imran Khan neither confirmed nor denied the report.
"All I can state what is already known, that Davendra Bishoo has been chosen as Dwayne Bravo's replacement," he said.
The 30-year-old Samuels was banned by the ICC for two years in May 2006 after Delhi Police taped telephone conversations in which he was passing information to alleged bookmakers.
The ICC charged him with "directly or indirectly engaging in conduct prejudicial to the game" and banned him.
He pleaded not guilty to the charge and having completed the ban, is keen to come back to the national side.
But With West Indies scheduled to tour India in November and December, his comeback seems further delayed.
Samuels played 29 Tests and 107 ODIs for the West Indies before being banned. PTI
