Cricket Kenya names Indian Dodda Ganesh as the new head coach of senior men's team

 Dodda Ganesh, a former Indian cricketer, has taken on a new challenge, raising the standard of cricket in Kenya after he was named the national men’s team head coach.

Known for his brief but impactful stint with the Indian national team in the late 1990s, Ganesh was unveiled Tuesday to take charge of the Kenyan side. The 51-year-old replaces former head coach Lameck Onyango, who now joins former Kenya cricketer Joseph Angara and fitness trainer Joseph Asichi in a new-look backroom bench.

Kenya, once a promising cricketing nation with notable performances in the early 2000s, has struggled to maintain its presence on the international stage. The decline in infrastructure, lack of funding, and limited opportunities for players have all contributed to the country's fall from grace in cricketing circles.

Ganesh believes that with the right guidance and support, the country can reclaim its place among the top Associate nations.

“We have a huge task ahead, given that we only have less than three weeks left until the games. The good thing is that around me is a good support staff that I will strive to work together with, and as a family. I want to see us back at the World Cup. I have lots of confidence having been here and played against the players from the past. Results are not produced by one person, it’s a team game,” he said.

Cricket Kenya CEO Ronald Bukusi has at the same time said they have an ongoing process with school learners during the holidays, which is aiming to impart skills, to nurture future stars.

 “We have started with the national team but even right now there are leagues that are going on in holiday camps in different parts of the country. Hopefully out of those we shall be able to generate more and better players,” said Bukusi.

Ganesh has no time to rest, as he is poised to embark on two upcoming international assignments for Kenya; the ICC Division 2 Challenge League in September, and the T20 World Cup Africa Qualifiers in October.

In the Challenge League, Kenya is set to face Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Denmark and Jersey.