New Kenyan cricket boss elected

Samir Inamdar, a Mombasa-based solicitor, who waged a long war against the Kenya Cricket Association, was on Sunday elected the new chairman of the trouble-ridden national body.

Inamdar, 46, defeated his sole challenger Salim Dhanji in a close-fought race during elections supervised by African Cricket Association officials. The former Kenya national captain Tom Tikolo withdrew after failing to get proposed for the seat.

Inamdar, who also served as a member of the government-backed Cricket Kenya, set up to replace the disbanded KCA board in February, said his committee would work to correct the mess created by the outgoing officials.

"Kenyan cricket has suffered greatly. We have seen so much split," Inamdar said. "We allowed cricket to be taken hostage by people who did not have the mandate as representatives of the clubs. This is a new beginning," he added.

Percy Sonn, the ICC vice-president, who had assisted the ACA in seeking a resolution, said the crisis had resulted in a wasted opportunity for the country. "It's a proud moment for African cricket," said Sonn, the South African who is expected to take over from Ehsan Mani as the ICC president next year.