Patil decides to return home, Kenyans devastated
By Ashish Shukla
Saturday, March 15 2003 16:40 Hrs (IST)

Durban: After performing a miracle with minnows Kenya, which has qualified for the World Cup semi-final, will former Indian player Sandeep Patil's services be utilised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India?

Patil, a member of the World Cup winning Indian team in 1983, is returning home after a four-year stint as Kenyan coach and he does not hide his interest in getting involved with the Indian team.

"I have decided to return to India. I don't have a position to go back to, but Dalmiya, the BCCI president, has shown an interest," Patil said. "I signed a four- year contract just after the last World Cup which ends at the conclusion of the tournament," he said.

The BCCI chief Jagmohan Dalmiya said in Kolkata that he had nothing to say on the matter at present. After India's wonderful run in the World Cup, it is unthinkable that New Zealander John Wright would not continue as the coach of the Indian team.

But whether Patil's services would be utilised in some other capacity remains a matter of conjecture.

Meanwhile, there is a sense of gloom clouding the Kenyan camp and streets back home following Patil's decision not to renew the contract. 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.

PTI

Extras:
Kenya keen to retain Patil, willing to renew contract
Kenyan cricket owes its grand success to Asians