Marlon Samuels in training on Monday with Jamaica's Carib Cup squad. - Carlington Wilmot /Freelance Photographer BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC:
THE WEST Indies Cricket Board (WICB) yesterday endorsed the selectors' decision to withdraw the injured Marlon Samuels from the World Cup squad and urged the young batting star not to compete in the Carib Beer Series tournament.
On the heels of reports that Jamaican team officials are eager to have the elegant 22-year-old in their line up to face the Leeward Islands in this weekend's Carib Beer Cup match in Anguilla, the WICB's acting chief executive officer Roger Brathwaite said urgent medical attention should be the player's priority.
"The board feels strongly that it is not in Marlon's best interest for him to compete in the upcoming Carib Beer Cricket Series," Brathwaite said in a prepared statement at a brief send-off function for the World Cup squad at the Grantley Adams International Airport Tuesday afternoon.
"While we are advising him not to play while carrying this injury, we do not have the authority to prevent him from playing, and regrettably will not be responsible for any injury he may suffer as a result," Brathwaite said.
Samuels left the pre-World Cup camp in Antigua last Thursday for an MRI scan after feeling discomfort in his left knee that was operated on last year February.
Samuels, disappointed over being withdrawn from the World Cup squad because of a knee injury, trained on Monday afternoon with the Jamaica squad and announced he was physically ready to play on Friday.
Team officials were also satisfied with condition and picked him on the 13-man travelling squad to face the Leewards in the Carib Beer Cup first round, starting on Friday.
The withdrawal of Samuels, who scored maiden Test and one-day international centuries on tour of India last year, stirred controversy in his home country this week and Brathwaite said the WICB "shares the disappointment that Marlon, his family and indeed all West Indian supporters must now feel over his exclusion from the touring party".
"We must support the selectors' decision that was taken in the best long-term interest of this very talented young cricketer," he said.
Brathwaite said a review of Dr. Akshai Mansingh's report, together with the selectors' "acute understanding of the rigours of a cricket World Cup" showed the decision to be a sound one.
"In his report, Dr. Mansingh said he was amazed at the size of the defect in Marlon's knee and assessed that there was progressive damage, recommending surgery at the earliest opportunity, with recovery estimated to take about a year.
"While Dr. Mansingh, did not say that Marlon could not go to the World Cup, his statement was prefaced by several conditions and warnings of possible detrimental outcomes," Brathwaite said.
He said the WICB would have to ensure that Samuels protected the knee in training which would have to be limited to swimming and soft terrain, gentle exercises, and would have to be closely monitored by medical personnel.
"He (Dr. Mansingh) also he anticipated that medication to control discomfort would have to have to be administered.
"Dr. Mansingh also cautioned that Marlon may break down at any time and would be best served to have constant evaluation during the tour. Under these circumstances and with a recent record of little success taking injured players on tour, the WICB executive committee concurred with the selectors' decision."
Brathwaite said the WICB was making arrangements recommended by Dr. Mansingh for the required assessment and treatment, and sports injury specialist Dr. Ainsworth Allen is being earmarked to see Samuels soon.
"Just this afternoon, Dr. Ainsworth Allen from New York made contact with us and has asked that Marlon, with immediate effect, schedule to arrive in New York for him to assess the damage on his knee," Brathwaite said.
