Samuels escapes sanction over 'throat-slit' gesture

E-Paper | May 03, 2026

SYDNEY: West Indies batsman Marlon Samuels will not be sanctioned over a “throat-slitting” gesture he made in his team's World Cup win over Zimbabwe, a source told AFP on Thursday.

Samuels appeared to run his thumb from one side of his throat to the other to mark his century in Tuesday's 73-run victory.

“The match officials have seen the incident and have decided not to lay a charge,” said a source.

However, it's understood that the match referee did have an informal talk to the West Indian regarding the matter.

Samuels made an undefeated 133 and shared a 372-run stand with Chris Gayle, who became the first double centurion in World Cup history, in the Pool B game at Canberra's Manuka Oval.

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asgher

Feb 26, 2015 06:38pm

agar yehi pakistani player nay kera hota to abhi bahir baitha hota. ICC should be ashamed of the double standards

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Nas

Feb 26, 2015 07:21pm

DOUBLE STANDADRDS ....GTH ..ICC

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Nadir

Feb 26, 2015 08:07pm

What a shame for ICC with this kind of Double Standard. PCB should have courage to tell ICC.

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H L

Feb 26, 2015 08:34pm

Its was not the best of gestures indeed. Match referee did good to bring this to the attention of WI team. It was reaction from a player playing another team in heat of moment an excitement which is not Ideal but certainly not punishable. Reprimand is good enough.

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James

Feb 26, 2015 08:52pm

cricket should include some drama also. it's "entertainment" after all.

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Ahmer

Feb 26, 2015 09:38pm

Come on, it is not that sensational. No harm, no foul.

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Alex

Feb 26, 2015 10:00pm

cricket is not a gentlemen game anymore. Bullying, cursing, slapping, betting, fixing, tempering, chucking, T20 circus, cheer leaders, fireworks, club standard crickters turned millionaires, clown dresses, big endorsements, corupt and criminal ICC chief who himself is a millionaire, night parties, players partying/hanging around with bollywood stars etc etc. Slit throat gesture I guess is nothing, sadly!

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fawad

Feb 26, 2015 10:26pm

It is up to team who fail offended to raise protest, and see the results. If they don't feel like it was insult, it is their choice and punishment will be low or none.

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ali

Feb 27, 2015 12:04am

What so ever...Marlon samuels is a brilliant lad and recalls the glory days of black storm. if brett lee can push punches in ground so whats wrong in this.

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Shahid Akbar, USA

Feb 27, 2015 12:32am

Marlon was happy to score that many runs and he was so thrilled. So, next time cricketers make a fist, the referee will come into play? Come on! I tend to agree to the comments: if it were a Pakistani player, ICC will either ban him or forfeit match fee but ICC has to take permission from the notorious BIG THREE.

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nobody

Feb 27, 2015 01:13am

cricket used to so simple and nice earlier. People who played cricket were just athletes coming in all size and shape. Now looking at some of the International players particularly Caucasins they train and work out like WWF wrestlers and they swear, bully,celebrate like WWF wrestler (which is infact a drama, only in cricket it is is real). And top of that they talk about Mental Disintegration and How they dont cross the line..

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anony

Feb 27, 2015 01:37am

And why not? Because he is not from Pakistan? If this was a Pakistani player, the Big-3 would have made sure he gets banned for life.

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Melbourne

Feb 27, 2015 03:19am

Why no action taken, jsut becaus its WI , yes i agree if this was Paksitan aganist India then India Parliment would have voted aganist the player and IC would have banned tghe player with sanctions..DOUBLE STANDARDS

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shehrijp

Feb 27, 2015 04:05am

He escaped because imposing any penalty against him would have been considered an act of racism. Worse than Samuel's gesture was the act of Australian players' sledging. Where was the match referee then?

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Khan

Feb 27, 2015 04:19am

@Nadir Good joke

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Akil Akhtar

Feb 27, 2015 06:55am

A player was banned for the whole season for a similar gesture in our local cricket.....

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Ravi Dallas TX

Feb 27, 2015 09:59am

It is cultural difference I guess. In US, it is common to make that gesture in sports to intimidate opposition. It is like some of those gaalis that you should not take literal meaning of it.

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ACP RATHOD

Feb 27, 2015 10:27am

i am reading lots of pakistan cricket fans are upset about marlon samuels episode and are moaning about the action of ICC and BIG3 not taken against it...common friends it was only gesture my friend...and by the way it is indeed less crime than ball tempering...you know all what i am saying

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Ali

Feb 27, 2015 11:30am

Warnings should be given but punishment should only be meted out if this behavior persists in any individual. Maybe a ban of few games and a fine after multiple warnings should do the trick. The so called "friendly" sledging should also come in this category.

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Talha

Feb 27, 2015 12:48pm

Is it wrestling or the gentleman's game?

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Safdar

Feb 27, 2015 02:22pm

Air has come off the balloon today... WI all set for a humiliating loss against SA. A message for all players and teams playing this tournament...mind your gestures until you have won the world cup...

Recommend 0

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