Kenya's cup of woes overflows

By G. Viswanath

PORT ELIZABETH, OCT. 16. Maurice Odumbe, the Kenyan captain, was penalised by the ICC for what he might regard as innocuous comments against umpire Dave Orchard. On Tuesday, he was called for a hearing at the St. George's Park by Match Referee Ahmed Ebrahim from Zimbabwe and thrown out of two matches of the Standard Bank tri- series competition. This means Odumbe cannot figure in the next two games against India on Wednesday (Oct. 17) and South Africa in Cape Town on Monday (Oct. 22). The announcement by the Match Referee, based on a specific ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Match Officials, has terminated Odumbe's non-stop run of 40 one- day internationals for his country.

The day, too, did not begin well for Kenya. Minutes before the start of the enquiry committing meeting convened by the Match Referee, Kenya's manager Mehmood Quraishy, a former captain and 1975 World Cupper, was hospitalised after suffering a heart ailment on way to the office of the Northern Cricket Association at St. George's Park. The Indian manager, Dr. M. K. Bhargava, an ENT specialist, provided immediate relief to Mehmood by giving a `sorbitrate' capsule.

The Kenyan coach Sandeep Patil, who attended the enquiry committee meeting, said: ``We have accepted the Match Referee's decision. We have also apologised to him.'' The two- match suspension on Odumbe forced a stop-gap captain to be appointed and the burden fell on Steve Tikolo. Odumbe's suspension was a big blow to the Kenyans, who have looked out of sorts in the tournament and struggled to score runs against the quality bowlers of South Africa and India. In the match against South Africa at Kimberley, Odumbe made 60 and looked to be getting into his stride.

Unfriendly official

After the South Africa-Kenya encounter at the De Beers Park, Kimberley, Odumbe said at the Press Conference that one gentleman (umpire Orchard) was not friendly towards his side, and that he had put it in the report. Odumbe also remarked, without naming Orchard, that the umpire in question refused to point out where a bowler was overstepping and argued with a bowler when he asked him to step back a little. Odumbe considered this behaviour by the umpire as violating the spirit of the game.

Odumbe might have escaped the ICC Code punishment if he had been a little tactful in mentioning certain incidents on the field. But having revealed that he had made certain remarks against the umpire in his report, he was inviting trouble straightaway.

He was docked a two-match ban because the ICC has been talking of doing away with `suspended sentences with mild or stern reprimand' because it doesn't work in the long run. A decision on this count may be taken at the ICC Meeting in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday and Thursday.

The Match Referee said Odumbe had been suspended for two matches for breaching 8(c) of the ICC Code of Conduct. According to clause 8(c), Players and team officials are barred from making any public pronouncement or media comment which is detrimental to the game of cricket. The irony of the whole episode was that umpire Orchard and Odumbe returned to their hotel, sitting side by side, in the Chrysler driven by the umpire!

The two incidents involving their manager and captain put a dampener on Kenya's preparation for what probably would be its first day/night tie in three years. Although the match against India at Bloemfontein was a day/night affair, the match was over in less than 50 overs and the lights were switched on for a short while when India chased the small target of 91.

In its previous day/night match at Gwalior, Kenya beat India, its only success in eight matches against the sub-continent side so far.

Patil was optimistic of putting up a better show against the Indians. ``The signs are encouraging. We made some runs against the South Africans in Kimberley. We have to improve our bowling now. I am happy with the way leg-spinner Collins Obuya has shaped. We cannot make too many changes. We have only 14 players (reduced to 13 now after the suspension on Odumbe) and have to make the best use of them. We will be practising close to the match strip in the evening. I must thank the UCB for giving us permission to have our nets there,'' said Patil.

As for the weather, it has become cold in this coastal city. Apparently, it was a wonderfully bright Sunday according to India's coach John Wright. Since then there has been a nip in the air, with the stiff winds forcing people to pull out their woollens. The Indian team, which was out in full strength at St. George's Park, was all prepared with jumpers stocked in its kit. The team began the morning session at 9.30 with a short game of rugby. After this warm-up, the players got into the serious business of batting and bowling in the nets. The Indians did everything with precision and the bowling machine too was put into use.

With nine points from three matches, India has decided to rest two key bowlers - Javagal Srinath and Ajit Agarkar. ``It's not a question of picking the XI, but a question of whom to leave out. Apart from Srinath and Agarkar, Virendra Sehwag too will be rested. Yuveraj has recovered and he will play,'' said Ganguly. It looks like one of the spinners, Kumble or Harbhajan, will be left out of the XI. The three seam bowlers in the squad will be Venkatesh Prasad, Harvinder Singh and Reetinder Singh Sodhi.

Hayward back

The South African selectors also made an important announcement on Tuesday. They recalled fast bowler Mornantau Hayward in the squad of 15 for the home team's next match against Kenya in East London next Friday. With Allan Donald and Mfuneki Ngam unlikely to be fit for the Test series against India, the selectors are keen to give Hayward an important role. Gary Kirsten and Andrew Nel also return to the squad.

The teams:

India (from): Sourav Ganguly (captain), Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Jacob Martin, Shiv Sundar Das, Yuveraj Singh, Deep Dasgupta, Venkatesh Prasad, Harvinder Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Reetinder Singh Sodhi and Anil Kumble; Reserves: Javagal Srinath, Ajit Agarkar and Virendra Sehwag.

Kenya (from): Steve Tikolo (captain), Ravindu Shah, Kennedy Obuya, David Obuya, Thomas Odoyo, Collins Obuya, Martin Suji, Brijal Patel, Tony Suji, Jimmy Kamande, Peter Ogondo, Joseph Angara and Sandeep Gupta.

Umpires: Messrs Dave Orchard and Brian Jerling; Third umpire: Mike Gajjar; Match Referee: Ahmed Ebrahim.

Hours of play (IST): 6 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. and 10.15 p.m. onwards.

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