Cricket Kenya abruptly ends Indian coach contract: Report

Former Indian cricketer Dodda Ganesh was appointed as the head coach of the Kenya men’s national cricket team last August. However, in just a month of his appointment, Cricket Kenya has reportedly removed him from the head coach role. 

Last August, the 51-year-old Dodda Ganesh officially joined the Kenya men’s national cricket team as the head coach. During his joining for the new role, the former Indian cricketer seemed very encouraged about the team’s future. 

Ganesh had said in his new coaching role, according to ESPNcricinfo, "The objective is to qualify for the World Cups, both ODIs and T20Is, but before that, we need to start preparing and start making progress. We have started preparing, and the signs are good. We got hardly any time left [for the first tournament], so I am watching local league matches. There will be fitness tests. We will slowly get into a process.”

Recently, Cricket Kenya passed a resolution that has forced Ganesh’s head coach role to count as an invalid. The process of appointment reportedly didn’t follow the pre-set guidelines. 

A statement claimed, “Under a resolution of the executive board of Cricket Kenya passed on Wednesday, 28th August 2024, and anchored under inter alia Articles 5.9 and 8.4.3 of the Cricket Kenya Constitution, we wish to notify you that the executive board has declined to ratify your appointment as head coach of the men’s cricket national team for want of following established procedures.” 

Lameck Onyango and Joseph Angara are reportedly set to begin their coaching roles for the men’s national cricket team. 

Kenya are set to host two major tournaments

Kenya is set to host the first round of the 2024-2026 Cricket World Cup Challenge League Group A from September 25. Hosts Kenya are ready to battle against Denmark, Jersey, Papua New Guinea, Kuwait, and Qatar. This tournament is an initial part of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 qualification. The top two teams of Group A will qualify for the 2027 Cricket World Cup Qualifier Play-off, from where the top four teams will advance for the 2027 Cricket World Cup Qualifier. South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia will host the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027. 

Meanwhile, in coming October, Kenya will also host the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup Africa Sub-regional Qualifier B. In this forthcoming tournament, Kenya will play against Zimbabwe, Gambia, Mozambique, Rwanda, and Seychelles. The top two teams from this tournament will qualify for the 2025 ICC Men's T20 World Cup Africa Regional Final, which will ultimately help the top two teams qualify for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka. 

Kenya reached the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 semi-finals

Kenya last played an ODI World Cup during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, hosted by India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. Meanwhile, Kenya participated in only one T20 World Cup during the inaugural ICC World T20 (2007) in South Africa.

During the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003, co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Kenya, the non-Test-playing side Kenya stunned the cricket world by reaching the semi-final of that tournament.