Former India international Dodda Ganesh has been sacked as the head coach of Kenya’s national men’s cricket team just a month after his appointment.
The decision to part ways with Ganesh was communicated through a formal letter from Cricket Kenya (CK) on Thursday, citing irregularities in the hiring process.
The former Indian fast bowler was appointed in early August, but CK’s executive board has now voided his contract, declaring it was not ratified according to the organization’s procedures.
“Under a resolution of the executive board of Cricket Kenya passed on Wednesday, 28 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,” read the letter signed by Cricket Kenya’s Director of Women’s Cricket, Pearlyne Omami.
The letter also pointed out that the contract signed between Ganesh and CK’s former chairperson Manoj Patel on August 7 had been deemed void.
“Cricket Kenya is not and shall not be bound by the said purported contract,” the letter added.
“You are therefore directed to cease any further engagement or dealings with the men’s national cricket team with immediate effect. Any concerns or claims relating to this notice should be channeled to Mr. Manoj Patel and any other individuals who irregularly and unprocedurally engaged you in this respect,” the letter concluded, effectively ending Ganesh’s short tenure in charge of the team.
The 51-year-old Ganesh, who was unveiled with much fanfare at the Sikh Union Club in Nairobi on August 13, had signed a one-year contract with the potential for an extension.
Cricket Kenya’s Chief Executive Officer, Ronald Bukusi, was among the officials present at the unveiling ceremony, with Ganesh expressing his ambition to help Kenya regain its stature on the global cricket stage.
“My first vision is to qualify for the World Cup,” Ganesh had confidently declared during his introduction.
“I have 25 years of coaching experience, and I believe I can guide this team back to the core of the International Cricket Council (ICC) family.”
Ganesh’s sacking comes at a particularly critical moment for Kenyan cricket, as the team is scheduled to compete in the first round of the ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League ‘A’ tournament from September 25 to October 5 in Nairobi.
The tournament will see Kenya face off against teams like Denmark, Kuwait, Papua New Guinea, Jersey, and Qatar, with stakes high as the path to World Cup qualification begins.
The abrupt departure of the head coach has left the team in a state of flux. In the interim, former Kenyan internationals Lameck Onyango and Joseph Angara have been appointed as interim head coach and assistant coach, respectively, to guide the team through the upcoming tournament.
This is not the first time that CK has faced issues surrounding appointments and internal governance. Observers of Kenyan cricket will remember that controversies surrounding hiring and administrative decisions have long hampered the sport’s development in the country.
For Ganesh, this marks a sudden and dramatic end to his mission to resurrect Kenyan cricket. With four Test appearances for India under his belt and over two decades of coaching experience, he came to Kenya with hopes of elevating the nation’s cricketing profile, only to have his role nullified before he could make a significant impact.
The controversy now shifts focus back to CK’s executive board and their decision-making process. Ganesh’s exit, just two weeks before the tournament, raises concerns about the team’s readiness and the broader consequences for Kenyan cricket moving forward.
With Onyango and Angara stepping back into familiar roles, the pressure is on to ensure Kenya remains competitive in the upcoming ICC tournament.
For now, the reasons behind the irregular appointment of Ganesh may remain a point of contention, but the urgency of the upcoming matches leaves little room for further distractions.
