ICC officers to investigate more Kenyan players

After banning Maurice Odumbe for five years, the ICC is now investigating further accusations of corruption involving Kenyan players, according to Reuters reports. Individual interviews with 14 players will be held between November 30 and December 2 by two members of the Anti-Corruption and Security Unit, Martin Hawkins and Alan Peacock.

Sammy Obingo, the Kenyan board's general manager, issued letters to the players in question, in which he told them: "The purpose of their visit is to carry out investigations into matters that arose during the recent Maurice Odumbe inquiry in Nairobi. The investigations are centered on the players and officials of the 1999-00 Kenya team of which you were a member."

The current investigations were sparked by comments made by Odumbe's ex-wife at the inquiry, where she suggested six Kenya players may have been involved in corrupt practices.

"I think this is a follow-up of what emerged at the Odumbe inquiry involving other national team members," said the chairman of the Kenyan board, Sharadh Ghai. "I think this is what they are coming to conduct further investigations on."

The banning of the charismatic and influential Odumbe following the inquiry hit the Kenyan team hard. And although he protested his innocence, his request for an appeal was turned down.

The current investigation is just the latest in a series of events to set back Kenya. Steve Tikolo resigned after the Champions Trophy - and a players' strike followed. The new captain, Hitesh Modi, said: "We've gone ten steps backward since the World Cup." Interestingly, he defended Odumbe, saying, "I thought it was unfair that he got a five-year ban. There have been players who have admitted to have taken money but who have got away. And they are only saying he knew a bookie, but they have not pinpointed any game which was affected."