Ganguly defends Samuels

Pune Warriors’ skipper Sourav Ganguly strongly defended team-mate Marlon Samuels, who was reported for suspect action, and said that there are other bowlers in the Indian Premier League with worse actions.

It had been reported by on-field umpires Aleem Dar and Bruce Oxenford, along with third umpire Vineet Kulkarni, at the end of Pune Warriors’ win over Chennai Super Kings last Saturday, that the West Indian had a suspected illegal action while bowling certain deliveries against the Super Kings. 

“I am surprised that he has been warned, to be honest. Because if you go around the IPL... If that’s the case then I should not be saying it because we are all part of a competition,” said Ganguly during an intense press conference on the eve of the Pune side’s match against Royal Challengers Bangalore.

“But if Marlon Samuels gets warned for his action, then there are probably a few around who are worse. So all we want to say that if you look around the IPL, I’ll be honest, there are a few worse actions going around. You have got to be very, very careful when you warn someone and let somebody else go.”

Further stressing on the topic, the former India skipper said: “Whoever has done it has got to be careful because Marlon has bowled for the West Indies for two years and he hasn’t been warned. He has bowled in first three games of the IPL and he hasn’t been warned. And I don’t know what different did he do in his fourth game to be warned. So we’ll have to be fair to everyone. If you see the footage of a lot of bowlers around in world cricket, then... I think his action is fine. The problem is that they haven’t been able to hit him into the stands, that’s the problem.” 

Under IPL’s Suspected Illegal Bowling Action Policy, the West Indian may continue to be selected to play and bowl for the Warriors but should he be reported for the second time, he would be suspended from bowling for the remainder of the season. 

“I just told him ‘keep bowling those yorkers and we’ll see what happens’,” Ganguly said when asked if he has had a chat with Samuels on the issue.