Samuels has team's support: Lara

The WI cricket captain backs all-rounder Samuels, accused of leaking information on team composition to a bookie.

The beleaguered West Indian all-rounder Marlon Samuels, accused of leaking information on team composition to a bookie, on Friday found support from his captain Brian Lara who said the entire team was behind him in this hour of crisis.

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Lara said he was unable to contact Samuels till now but wanted him to know that he had the full support of the entire team.

"I have been unable to contact the WICB or more importantly Marlon Samuels as the report emerged while I was in London overnight," Lara was quoted as saying.

"Ultimately I would like to speak to Marlon to let him know that he has the full support of myself and the other players. He needs to stay focussed on the things he can control. We have a World Cup to win," he said.

Samuels finds himself at the centre of a major controversy following the sensational disclosure by Nagpur police of a taped conversation between the West Indian all-rounder and an alleged bookie Mukesh Kochar.