Samuels alleges 'discrimination' by coach David Moore

Jamaica, June 10 (UNI) Barely has the West Indies team come out of a row, another is brewing with all-rounder Marlon Samuels charging newly-appointed interim coach David Moore of discrimination, in a letter to the president of the West Indies Cricket Board Ken Gordon.

In the letter to team manager Mike Findlay, which has been copied to WICB President, Samuels accused former head coach Bennett King and interim coach Moore of not giving him a fair chance of preparing himself for selection to the senior side, Radio Jamaica reported.

After he arrived in England replacing injured Ramnaresh Sarwan in the team, Samuels said he was not given a chance for batting practice in the nets until after every other player (including the bowlers) had batted.

''At this time the net bowlers were very tired and unable to bowl properly and you would understand that since I only recently arrived it is important for me to get an equal chance to acclimatize and prepare myself for the test match if given the opportunity,'' Samuels wrote.

The Jamaican right-hander added that this was not the first time he was faced such discrimination, saying it dated back to 2006 in India and Malaysia under Bennett King and only stopped after he had complained to manager Clive Lloyd during a team meeting.

''I am forced to write to you also because for too long I have kept quiet on several things, such as this, which have affected me in the past. I think it is important for me to bring this to your attention so that you can address it and help to ensure that there are no distractions,'' wrote Samuels in the concluding para.

Samuels ran into a major controversy when the Nagpur police alleged he passed on match-related information to a bookie ahead of a ODI against India early this year.

He was included in the World Cup squad despite ICC's investigations into the issue, where he only briefly shone, ending the tournament by running out Brian Lara in his last international innings. He lost his place for the ongoing England tour.

UNI