Delay in ICC funding grounds Cricket Kenya operations

By Feverpitch Reporter   

Cricket Kenya is in financial difficulties that is threatening the smooth running of the sport.

FeverPitch has learnt that the association is not in a position to carry out some of the activities they are mandated to do because they do not have money.

Among the activities that has been hit by CK financial status is the last-minute cancellation of Uganda twin tour to Kenya for a series of matches from today.

Ugandan men and women teams were due to engage their hosts in a series of matches from tomorrow at various grounds in the city, but the financial situation at CK forced for the tours at last minute.

?CK has found themselves in the situation after International Cricket Council (ICC) failed to release their quarterly funding to Kenya in October.

With the association having failed to attract the sponsors for years now, they depend on ICC funding to run their activities.

Sh1 million

Kenya was to spend close to Sh1 million for the two tours, but CK chairman Samir Inamdar confirmed that they is no money as they are waiting money from ICC and asked for the cancellation of the two tours on Tuesday.

Before that, Kenyan coaches and their Ugandan counterparts were kept in the dark on status of the tour and it took a strong worded letter from Uganda Cricket Association Chief Executive Officer, Justine Ligyalingi to CK that made the? chairman to come out to state their predicament.

“We received assurances from your side that the two tours were on and CK was making the necessary preparations and, based on that, we went ahead with the preparations from our side. It’s very unfortunate that at this stage we are yet to receive a confirmation from Cricket Kenya of whether the two tours are on or not,” the letter said

Preparing teams

Coaches, led by national team acting head coach, Robin Brown, were in the process of preparing the teams for the two major events but CK kept everyone in the cold.

“Up to yesterday (Tuesday) we made efforts to seek for tour details to avail the touring party, but no concrete response was provided and none had the courtesy of reverting us with the necessary information despite our mails and phone calls.

Colleagues, we kindly beg you to have the courtesy and just let us know if the tours are on or not. In the ideal working spirit of East Africa we should be forging for closer and better working relationships /ties at the various levels,” Ugandan letter read.

?But it’s only after this letter that CK confirmed through Inamdar that they don’t have funds and that the tours should be deffered until they receive the money.

“We don’t have money for any activity at the moment, That’s why we asked for the matches to be deffered for one week,” Inamdar said.

“We are yet to receive a Q4 funding from ICC and so we can’t go on with the tour, we do not want to use the money for something else,” added Inamdar who blamed ICC for coming up with some demands and queries at the last minute before they release the money.

FeverPitch has learnt that ICC is demanding for the appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer to replace Tom Sears before the release of the money among other demands.