Police say they have no evidence Samuels received money from the bookie. - Contributed

CALCUTTA, India (AP)

Nagpur police allegedly taped phone conversations in which West Indies all-rounder Marlon Samuels discussed team strategy with an illegal book-maker during the recent limited-overs series in India.

Amitesh Kumar, deputy commissioner of police in Nagpur, where India and West Indies played the opening match on January 21, said yesterday information on the alleged conversations between Samuels and alleged bookie Mukesh Kochchar was passed to the International Cricket Council's (ICC) anti-corruption unit and to the Indian Cricket Board, according to India media reports.

Kumar claimed Samuels provided details of the West Indies batting line-up and bowling order for the match but added there was no evidence of financial dealings.

The conversation seemed to be in "violation of the ICC's code of conduct for players," Kumar was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India.

West Indies was beaten by 14 runs in the Nagpur match in which Samuels took no wicket for 53 off his 10 overs, and scored 40.

Kumar further added the police had received information ahead of the match about a cricketer being in touch with an illegal bookmaker.

Media reports said the alleged conversations carried on for two days.

MOTHER SHOCKED

Samuels' mother, Lunan Samuels, was shocked to hear her son was linked to match fixing.

"It's surprising to me and no, I don't believe it," Lunan Samuels said in Kingston.

She said she'd seen Marlon yesterday, and he'd said nothing about being investigated by Indian police.

Board of Control for Cricket in India's vice-president Shashank Manohar told CNN-IBN Television that it was not aware of the alleged phone conversations.

He said such matters were dealt with by the anti-corruption staff of the ICC.

West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) spokesman Tony Deyal said a complete investigation of the allegations would be launched once the WICB received information from the ICC.

"However, we are not going to act on rumour or gossip and will not be panicked, particularly since we are talking about the career and future of a young cricketer of talent and promise," Deyal said, adding WICB had a zero tolerance policy on gambling.

A cricket match-fixing scandal erupted in 2000 following a Delhi police investigation during South Africa's tour of India, which eventually led to a life ban from playing for the then South Africa skipper Hansie Cronje.

A subsequent Indian federal police report on corruption in the game mentioned the names of many international cricketers, including Indians.

An internal investigation by the Indian board based on that report led to a life ban from playing for former captain Mohammad Azharuddin and five-year suspensions for Ajay Jadeja and Manoj Prabhakar.