Sharad Ghai slams Kenya's lack of heart

Sharad Ghai, the former chairman of the Kenya Cricket Association (KCA), believes Kenya has lost their ability to perform against reasonable opposition and is concerned about the domestic structure in place.

"We are not as good as we used to be," Ghai said. "The players don't have the heart to perform and they are not a cohesive team."

Ghai has been an outspoken critic of Kenya cricket, and the board, ever since he was ousted from office in 2005 and earlier this year was believed to be attempting a comeback through the Nairobi Provincial Cricket Association.

Kenya endured a difficult tour of Europe this summer, prompting the board to call for an inquiry owing to the poor results and rumours of ill-discipline among some team members. And Ghai believes Kenya's domestic structure is a key factor in their current decline in form.

"Our domestic cricket is at the lowest ebb ever," he said. "We know what is wrong but we are not seeking a remedy. Instead we are naming task-forces to investigate the circumstances. The only way forward is to resuscitate the national development programme, identify new talents to replace the ageing national team players and the game will back on its feet."

Sources close to Cricket Kenya were quick to point out that when Ghai left office the boards was hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt, the national team was on strike, and the board was being fought by a majority of stakeholders as well as by Kenya's government.

Kenya face Ireland on Saturday in the ICC Intercontinental Cup, the winners of which will face Namibia in the final to be held in South Africa. Four days later they again take on Ireland in a tri-series also involving Zimbabwe, after which they do battle with South Africa for two ODIs.