Demonstrators call for Ghai's resignation

Pressure on the Kenya Cricket Association to reform and be more open in its dealings increased yesterday with a public protest against it in Nairobi. About 30 demonstrators called on the government to remove Sharad Ghai, the board's chairman.

They accused the board of giving preference to development of Asian players at the expense of blacks. David Moseti, a spokesman for the protesters, blamed Ghai for failing to promote the game and called on the KCA to account for the way it has spent money received from the ICC.

Ghai dismissed the protest as porrly informed, and accused it of being orchestrated to promote the case of the striking players. "Won't pay, can't pay," Ghai told the Daily Nation. "We cannot be held at ransom anymore since we simply don't have the money in absence of commercial sponsorship."

Ghai continued that he was ready to resign were that the wish of the players and the fans, but added he refused to be intimidated by a small group of individuals.

And he said that he was also frustrated that again the situation was being turned into one of race. "Why is it that every time the national team want things their own way the race issue has to come up. The team which beat Namibia was a Kenyan team and not Asian. Everybody is selected in the national team by merit."