Marlon to continue to play till end of investigation: ICC

Nagpur, Feb 13 (UNI) The four-member Anti Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) team of the International Cricket Council (ICC) completed its task in the city and left for Dubai today.

The team was here to probe the alleged match fixing during India-West Indies ODI played on January 21.

Addressing a press conference this evening before leaving for Dubai, ICC Media Manager Brian Murgatroyd said Marlon Samuels may continue to play for the West Indies team till the ICC investigations are complete.

''Though we want to finish the investigations before the Cricket World Cup-2007, but we want to conduct a thorough and complete investigation into the allegations,'' Mr Murgatroyd said.

Describing the ACSU team's stay at Nagpur as ''successful'', Mr Murgatroyd said that three of the team members, Chief Investigator Jeff Rees, Senior Investigator Alan Peacock, and himself, would leave for ICC Headquarters at Dubai tonight.

''ICC Regional Security Manager Niranjan S Virk will go to Madgaon (Goa) where the next ODI between India and Sri Lanka is being played,'' Mr Murgatroyd said.

Replying to a question, Mr Murgatroyd said that the ACSU team would proceed with the investigations to reach a conclusion and, hence, no time frame was set for the probe to be completed. He made it clear that speculations over various things did not form any part of the investigation.

Refusing to disclose whether the ACSU team had got the documents and all other material pertaining to the controversial conversation between Marlon Samuels and alleged bookie Mukesh Kochar, Mr Murgatroyd maintained that evidence collection and other aspects were a part of the investigation.

Earlier in the day, the ACSU team visited Vidarbha Cricket Association office and Hotel Pride where cricketer Marlon Samuels stayed during the India-West Indies ODI. The team also had another round of discussions with Nagpur's Police Commissioner Shiv Pratap Singh Yadav.

Meanwhile, police sources said that Nagpur Police did not receive permission from Ministry of Home Affairs to hand over the tape of conversation, the phone bills and other details to ACSU team. Once the permission is received, the details would be provided to ICC's India representative, the sources said.

UNI