6, April 2005	Wednesday	26 Safar 1426

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NAIROBI, April 5: Former Pakistan all-rounder Mudassar Nazar has returned to Kenya to take temporary charge of the country’s crisis-torn national side for its upcoming ICC Intercontinental Cup match against Uganda, officials said Tuesday.

Mudassar, who served as the Pakistan national team coach in 2001-2002, had previously worked as the director of the Nairobi Cricket Academy and assisted in training the Kenya team following the resignation of former national coach Andy Moles in January.

But after the chaos that engulfed the governorship of the sport in Kenya, the Pakistani went back to his country where he was reported to be the favourite to take over as director of the National Cricket Academy in Lahore.

Mudassar said he was encouraged by new developments in Kenyan cricket following the weekend intervention of the African Cricket Association in a raging internal administrative battle between current and former governing boards.

“I am hoping we will get on with the game and forget the politics,” Mudassar said. “My main objective is obviously to assemble the best team to face Uganda, to return to top international cricket and aim for Test status.

“That’s all it needs,” he said.

Mudassar will be assisted by former international Alfred Njuguna who has been coaching most of the senior players who went on strike over pay late last year.

Kenya will face the Ugandan side in Kampala from April 21 to 24 in a match that was nearly postponed due to the crisis. An earlier match against Namibia set for February in Windhoek was delayed by the infighting.—AFP