Kenya players resolve contract issue

The eight Kenya cricketers who had refused national contracts have been cautiously welcomed back into the fold after apologising to the board. They will now be placed on month-by-month training contracts as Kenya prepare for their next major assignment, the World Twenty20 qualifiers early next year. The top two teams from the qualifier progress to the main event in Sri Lanka.

The eight players - Alex Obanda, Shem Ngoche, James Ngoche, Nehemiah Odhiambo, Elijah Otieno, Morris Ouma, Nelson Odhiambo and Alfred Luseno - approached the board over their actions and were granted individual hearings. They will still be assessed each month but Tom Sears, the Cricket Kenya chief executive, hoped to be able to draw a line under the issue.

"We are pleased that we have resolved the situation with these players who have expressed their sincere regret over the way they have conducted themselves and the actions they have taken in recent months," he said.

"Cricket Kenya has always been keen to resolve this situation and have these players available. They have now come to the realisation that they have been badly advised and made some very poor decisions. They have all apologised and accepted new terms which will see them involved with the national training squad."

In a joint statement the players said: "We would like to apologise for the way we have conducted ourselves both to Cricket Kenya and our teams in the East African Cricket Competitions (EACC).

"Some of the advice we received from outside parties and those supposed to be representing our interests was not in our best interests, but ultimately we have to accept responsibility for our own decisions. In the future we will work with Cricket Kenya and make sure we are properly represented by people who are capable, independent and offer sound advice which has not been the case recently.

"We are very grateful we have been given this opportunity to be involved with the National squad again and will work positively with Cricket Kenya in the future. Cricket Kenya has instigated a lot of progressive changes since the post-World Cup review, like the new EACC, and we are very keen to contribute to a better future for cricket in Kenya."

Kenya suffered a forgettable World Cup on the subcontinent earlier this year and have failed to reach the last two World Twenty20 tournaments.