St. John's, Feb 9: The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has promised to launch an inquiry into claims that all-rounder Marlon Samuels passed team information to a bookmaker on the recent tour of India.

WICB spokesman Tony Deyal said on Friday : “Whatever we do will be fair, honest and transparent. Whatever action we have to take consistent with law, we will take it.”

Indian police claim to have tapes of a conversation involving Samuels before a recent one-dayer in Nagpur. Samuels denied any wrongdoing but West Indies Board has to speak to him or decide precisely what form any investigation on their part will take.

Deyal said: “We're not going to act on rumour or gossip because we are dealing with career of a young cricketer of talent, promise. We will have an investigation and take whatever action is appropriate and consistent with ICC regulations.”

Meanwhile, Captain Brian Lara offered his backing for Samuels. “Ultimately, I would like to speak to Samuels to let him know he has full support of myself and other players. He needs to stay focused on things he can control. We have a World Cup to win,” Lara said.—Agencies