ST JOHN’S (Antigua), Feb 6: Stricken batsman Marlon Samuels, who just two weeks ago faced the prospect of missing out on the World Cup through injury, may be handed a reprieve.

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) said here on Thursday that they had been informed by the ICC that it will hear the case to allow the reinstatement of Samuels for the World Cup.

The ICC contacted WICB president Wes Hall in South Africa and notified him of the meeting, after a written application by Roger Brathwaite, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the WICB, and a telephone call between Hall and Malcolm Speed, Chief Executive of the ICC.

“The president has stated that we will do all in our power to have Marlon play in the World Cup and the resolution of this matter now rests with the ICC,” said Michael Hall, the Chief Cricket Operations Officer of the WICB.

The West Indies face South Africa in the opening match on Sunday in Cape Town.

Samuels had originally been ruled out because of a knee injury and replaced by all-rounder Ryan Hinds and last week sought treatment in the United States in a last-ditch effort to get fit.—AFP