Nairobi, Mar 13: Kenya's cricket chiefs today said they were willing to meet with national coach Sandeep Patil to discuss a possible renewal of his contract which ends after the World Cup. "I am well aware the contract is up but we will be keen to meet Patil after the tournament to discuss whether he would accept our terms," said Kenya Cricket Association (KCA) president Jimmy Rayani. Patil, a member of India's World Cup winning team in 1983, said yesterday he will be heading back to India after the tournament despite Kenya's unexpected progress to the semi-finals. "I signed a four-year contract just after the last World Cup which ends at the conclusion of the tournament," he said.

"I have decided to return to India. I don't have a position to go back to, but Dalmiya, the Indian board president, has shown an interest," he added.

The relationship between the former Indian batsman and his Kenyan employers has not been rosy.

Patil guided Kenya to the final of the ICC trophy tournament in Malaysia in 1997 but walked out before the final against Bangladesh amid reports of a dispute with the KCA. He was, however, given another term in 1999 till the current World Cup.

Bureau Report