Cricket Kenya scraps revised contracts

Cricket Kenya has withdrawn its revised contracts, which the players had declined to sign, instead offering 20 players - 13 now and seven more by the end of July - annual contracts as was the system previously.

The contracts include two reviews, scheduled in August and February, to monitor the players' performance. Senior players like Jimmy Kamande, Thomas Odoyo, David Obuya and Maurice Ouma, who were part of Kenya's World Cup squad, are not on the new contracts list released by the board.

The board chief, Tom Sears, said the contracted players have the ability to contribute in more than one area of the game. "There is a blend of experienced players who have competed in World Cups and other ICC events, and some young players who have come through our development programme and age-group teams," he said. "We have selected multifaceted players who have the ability to excel in more than one of the three disciplines - batting, bowling and fielding."

He also said a lot of emphasis is being laid on fitness. "We have to aim to excel in the two areas we have complete control of - fielding and fitness, and achieve genuine world class standards in these areas. If we achieve this collective performances and results will improve.

"The newly contracted players will be subjected to regular fitness testing and expected to attain specified standards. The door is open to any player ... if they can show they have the potential to reach the standards we expect."

The current central contracts expired on May 31, and the players reportedly refused to start training for the upcoming inaugural East African Premier league in Uganda, until their concerns with the new system were addressed. The board had announced four-month contracts for 12 players to cover the league to be played in August. At the end of the league, the selectors were to recommend a minimum of 12 players for nine-month central contracts, which were to be reviewed every three months by the selectors and coaching staff to monitor the players' progress. The review would have determined whether a player was retained or let go.

The change in the contracts system was part of a transformation being implemented in Kenyan cricket following their dismal World Cup campaign. Kenya went through the tournament without a win, after which coach Eldine Baptiste resigned, captain Kamande was sacked, a new selection panel was instituted and the domestic cricket structure was overhauled.

List of centrally contracted players: Ragheb Aga, Runish Gudhka, Tanmay Mishra, James Ngoche, Shem Ngoche, Alex Obanda, Collins Obuya, Nehemiah Odhiambo, Lucas Oluoch, Elijah Otieno, Rakep Patel, Hiren Varaiya, Seren Waters