Dubai: The International Cricket Council today directed the West Indies Cricket Board to launch an official probe into the issue of Marlon Samuels allegedly passing off team information to bookies on the eve of Nagpur ODI against India in January this year.

ICC's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit, led by the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Commission, Michael Beloff QC, after looking into the matter felt that Samuels has breached the ICC Code of Conduct Regulations.

The report, which was tabled in the ICC Board meeting here, alleged that Samuels breached code of conduct pertaining to "receiving any money, benefit or other reward (whether financial or otherwise) which could bring him or the game of cricket into disrepute; and/or has engaged in any conduct which, in the opinion of the (ICC) Executive Board... Is prejudicial to the interests of the game of cricket."

"The Board considered the report and the recommendation of Mr Beloff and has instructed the WICB to carry out an investigation into the matter, and then to report to an Official Enquiry," ICC said in a release.

"Such a report is to be compiled in a timely manner and to be submitted no later than the 31 January 2008," it said.

The official Enquiry to receive the WICB report will comprise the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Commission and two Code of Conduct Commission Members not connected with the WICB.

"The Official Enquiry will then review the findings of the WICB investigation and make recommendations to the Executive Board.." The Nagpur police had revealed that Samuels had passed on team information on the eve of the Nagpur ODI on January 21 to Mukesh Kochar, an alleged bookie.

Source : PTI