Ghai slams 'illegal' Cricket Kenya board

Former Kenyan Cricket Association boss Sharad Ghai has launched a remarkable attack on the current board, accusing chairman Samir Inamdar of putting his globe-trotting ahead of the interest of the game.

Ghai was ousted in 2005 after bitter disputes with players and stakeholders. Despite that, Ghai, who many suspect of still harbouring ambitions to return to national administration, claimed that Kenyan cricket was now at an all-time low.

Speaking to Sports Monthly magazine, Ghai slammed almost every aspect of the way Cricket Kenya is run. He reserved his most bitter attacks for Inamdar, a man who did more than most to help oust him. "The chairman is too preoccupied with the happenings at ICC at the expense of local cricket," Ghai said, "and who is paying for the travelling expenses."

Ghai also accuses the board of remaining in office illegally by not calling elections, a comment that one senior administrator under both regimes described as "the ultimate example of the pot calling the kettle black".

Elections, which are scheduled for next month, should have been held in June 2007 but have been constantly delayed by the failure of the Nairobi Provincial Cricket Association to sort out their own constitution. "The same person who is in the chair presently was a strong advocate of amending the constitution to be in line with CK," Ghai said. "[But] the goal posts have been shifted to give the team the excuse to remain in power illegally."

Ghai then attacked the failure of the board to ensure that money from Tusker, the main sponsor, was paid. "I have had dealings in the past with the sponsors and can state they are serious people who meet every commitment and obligation," he said. "CK has been giving the excuse the delay has been caused by a change of guard, yet successor takes over what his predecessor left.

"Kenyan cricket has been reduced to the lowest standard of competition," he concluded. "Cricket in Kenya is now in the ICU and if emergency measures are not taken, it is going to die."