Derbyshire drop interest in Samuels

Derbyshire have announced that they are "no longer pursuing" a deal to bring Marlon Samuels to the club. Samuels revealed in an interview last week that he had been offered a contract "worth £120,000-130,000 a year" to sign as a Kolpak player for Derbyshire, while expressing his frustration with West Indies' selection policies.

Samuels was left out of the ODI squad for West Indies' series with England but was said to be reluctant to go down the Kolpak route, as it would bar him from international cricket. However, Derbyshire have now withdrawn their interest.

A statement on the club's website said: "Derbyshire can confirm it has been in contact with West Indies international Marlon Samuels and his agent regarding opportunities at the club.

"The club remains committed to exploring all options to strengthen the side ahead of the 2017 season. However, we have a number of routes available and, in view of recent events, the club is no longer pursuing Marlon Samuels."

Samuels, 36, was not selected for the England ODIs after opting to miss the majority of the WICB's Regional Super 50 competition in order to play in the Pakistan Super League. He was critical of the board for not showing more loyalty after a 17-year international career that has seem him play more than 300 times for West Indies.

"I've got a Kolpak deal on my plate which I'm contemplating," he said of the offer to play county cricket. "It's a three-year deal with Derbyshire. Worth probably £120,000-130,000 a year. The money is not the issue at the moment, I've been playing international cricket the last 17 years so have set myself the right way. This is about principle, about being loyal."