After high, Kenya get Patil’s blow

Now that Sandip Patil has decided not to seek an extension as a coach, there is a sense of gloom clouding the Kenyan camp here and streets b...

Now that Sandip Patil has decided not to seek an extension as a coach, there is a sense of gloom clouding the Kenyan camp here and streets back home.

The entire Kenya, it seems, is on streets celebrating the World Cup semi-final spot for its cricket team and at the same time devastated by Patil’s decision to quit as coach.

Patil has decided to return home to India, reportedly after having a word with Indian cricket’s supremo Jagmohan Dalmiya, but Kenyans cannot see a cricketing life after Patil.

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Patil, who took over the reins of Kenyan cricket after the 1999 World Cup, has done a wonderful job in inculcating discipline without curbing the naturally aggressive instincts of the Kenyan cricketers.

Says Mahmood Qureshi, manager of the Kenyan team, “he has been the backbone of Kenyan cricket. If Andrew (Kirsten) has looked after the physical training of the boys, Patil has been wonderful in training skills and instilling cricket acumen among young cricketers.”

A particular piece of Patil’s sharp cricketing brain was on view against Zimbabwe earlier this week when Kenya employed no less than eight bowlers and completely befuddled their African counterparts.

Patil said on the eve of he match he was not holding anything back and the entire Kenyan team was electrified and in an aggressive mood. (PTI)

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