Samuels blames riot for failure in opening Test

est Indies batsman Marlon Samuels says the political riot that occurred outside the squad’s hotel in Dhaka on November 13 had affected his performance during the first Test against Bangladesh.

Samuels scored 17 runs in the opening Test, which the West Indies won by 77, runs on the fifth and final day in Dhaka on November 17.

The Jamaican batsman said he was thinking of returning home rather than playing cricket.

As a result of the riot, the West Indies team was provided with extra security

Seven police officers were among dozens of people injured, when demonstrators from the opposition Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami clashed with security.

Last year, the West Indies bus was stoned after Bangladesh were bowled out for just 58, their lowest ever score.

Samuels returned in the second and final Test to hammer a career-best 260 to help West Indies beat Bangladesh by 10 wickets on Sunday.

West Indies will now face Bangladesh in five One-Day Internationals and one Twenty20 International in a series, which bowls off on Friday.

sports@gleanerjm.com