Gayle - File

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC):

West Indies captain Chris Gayle is disappointed over the International Cricket Council's (ICC) ban on Marlon Samuels from bowling in international cricket.

"It is very disappointing that Marlon has been suspended by the International Cricket Council over his bowling action," said Gayle, who is currently leading Jamaica against T&T at the Queen's Park Oval in a Carib Beer Series fourth round match. "He is a very good player and to have this interruption at this time is not what he would have wanted."

Samuels was last week banned from bowling in international cricket after an independent analysis of his action proved it exceeded the permitted 15 degrees. The cricketer, who can continue to play as a batsman, has the right of appeal or can reapply for permission to bowl once his action has been sufficiently modified.

"Marlon, although he has been around for quite a while, it still a young man and has time on his side to rectify his problems and get back into the game fully," Gayle said. "His bowling is an essential ingredient of his game and he will miss doing this, until it is sorted out.

"However, Marlon is a strong person and he would come back from this and I am confident things would work out in his favour soon. He is not the first bowler to be called and many players have come back and continued their bowling."

Samuels has played 17 Tests and 104 ODIs.