11 Kenya players sacked, India tour off

Kenya's cricket governing body sacked 11 members of the national team, including captain Maurice Odumbe, on Wednesday and cancelled a two-month tour of India and Bangladesh.

The Kenya Cricket Association accused the players of holding the body to ransom after they demanded more money.

Players say they had not had a pay increase for three years.

"They (the players) have got away with murder in the past and we have been brilliant about the whole thing," Kenya Cricket Association secretary general Anil Sarkar said.

"But they have blackmailed us too many times."

Star batsman Steve Tikolo and middle-order batsman Hitesh Modi are the only high-profile members of the squad to survive.

The Kenyan team were due to fly to India next week in a tour which would have included three one-day internationals against the national side. They were then going to travel to Bangladesh.

Sarkar said the KCA was particularly angered by a threat from some of the players to refuse to play against Sri Lanka A in a match last month unless some demands were met.

KCA chairman Jimmy Rayani warned there might be no way back for the sacked players.

"We cannot condone such militant action by players and we shall constitute a new team if need be," Rayani said.

Skipper Odumbe said he is angered by the KCA's decision, describing the body as a cartel.

"I am disgusted by the sacking," he said.. "There is no respect at all. Their attitude is 'why should I sit down with someone like Jimmy Kamande who used to be a ball boy?'. What is wrong with what we are asking?"

Sarkar said Odumbe was the main instigator of the dispute and said the captain faced disciplinary action for talking to the press.

Apart from Odumbe the others to have their contracts terminated are openers Ravindu Shah and Kennedy Otieno, all-rounder Thomas Odoyo, fast bowlers Martin and Tony Suji, Jimmy Kamande, Brijal Patel, Francis Otieno, Peter Ochieng and Lameck Onyango.

Kenya is one of 11 countries with one-day international status.

The players' demands include a larger appearance fee, currently 3,000 shillings ($40), a better salary and medical coverage.

The International Cricket Council said it is too soon to comment on the developments.

"We have been made aware of the situation and we will be investigating further," said Mark Harrison, a spokesman for the ICC in London.

Mail Cricket Editor