Harper stands down as Kenya's coach

Kenya's ambitions to bridge the gap between themselves and the Full Member countries have been dealt a blow by the news that Roger Harper will not be renewing his contract as coach after the ICC World Twenty20.

Harper took charge in January 2006 and has had considerable success in rebuilding a side that hardly played in the previous three years. In February this year Kenya won the World League Division One, a success which earned them a place in the ICC World Twenty20. The Kenyan side has also become far more disciplined in his time at the helm.

Harper turned down an invitation to continue because of family commitments in the Caribbean.

"Roger has been a truly marvellous ambassador for the game of cricket," Samir Inamdar, Cricket Kenya's chairman, told Cricinfo. "His steadying influence at a time when our cricket was in pieces has been an outstanding feature of his stay here. It has, I believe, succeeded in bringing our national team together into a cohesive and disciplined unit."

Kenya will look to fill the vacancy immediately after the tournament. Harper's successor will be appointed for the period ending June 2009.