KENYA coach Eldine Baptiste and Cricket Kenya have decided to part ways two months before his term was to have ended in June, following the country’s disastrous performance in the recently-concluded World Cup.
This brings to an end a reign that saw reports about his alleged differences with the players surface during the World Cup.
Baptiste’s departure comes in the wake of the performance review being conducted by CK after Kenya lost all of their six World Cup league games to finish bottom of their group. Tom Sears, CK chief executive, said that as part of the review, the coach’s position had also come under scrutiny.
“Both Cricket Kenya and Eldine Baptiste have decided that there is a need for change. I would like to commend Eldine for his professionalism and honesty during the review process,” Baptiste said.
“We will now conduct an extensive recruitment process to find a new national coach and will be inviting applications from both within Kenya and overseas. It is vital we find the right person to take us forward and this is a crucial appointment.”
Sears said that there would be far-reaching changes at every level of the game in Kenya, as the review process would assess each operational area.
“We expect to make public the full findings of the review in mid-May once we have consulted with the ICC. We have to use this opportunity to change for the better and fulfil the undoubted potential of cricket in Kenya.”
Baptiste took over as Kenya coach in September 2009 after coaching stints in South Africa and the West Indies. But Kenya’s results have continued to remain disappointing since he took over. They won only four of their 22 ODIs under his tenure. (ESPN Cricinfo)