NAIROBI, Kenya, CMC – Kenya coach Eldine Baptiste has become the latest post World Cup coaching casualty after parting ways with the national team this week.
In a statement, Cricket Kenya’s chief executive Tom Sears said the side’s recent poor showing in the ICC showpiece had prompted the move.
“As part of the comprehensive review we are conducting, the coach’s performance and position have come under scrutiny. Both Cricket Kenya and Eldine Baptiste have decided that there is a need for change,” said Sears.
“I would like to commend Eldine for his professionalism and honesty during the review process. 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.”
The 51-year-old Baptiste, an all-rounder who played 10 Tests and 43 One-Day Internationals for West Indies between 1983 and 1990, oversaw Kenya’s wretched World Cup campaign on the Asian subcontinent.
They were the whipping boys of Group A, losing all their six games to finish bottom of the table without a point.
Cricket Kenya said the decision was reached following discussions with Baptiste who took up the role two years ago.
“In the wake of Kenya’s unacceptable showing at the Cricket World Cup 2011, the parties have agreed that Baptiste will leave his position with immediate effect,” Sears said.
Kenya’s performances have declined since the 2003 World Cup where they were good enough to reach the semi-finals. However, they bowed out at the group stage when the event was held in the Caribbean four years later, winning a single game against Canada.
