The International Cricket Council will continue to recognise the Kenyan Cricket Association (KCA) following a court decision to suspend its dissolution.

Sports Minister Francis Nyenze ordered the country's cricket and football governing bodies to be disbanded out earlier this month following allegations of financial mismanagement.

But the High Court in Nairobi subsequently overturned his decision on the grounds that only the Registrar of Societies had the power to do so.

The court has also given the two organisations leave to apply for permanent orders to prevent the government from interfering in the running of their affairs.

The controversy is of concern to the ICC, not least because two first round group games in next year's World Cup are due to be staged there.

But chief executive Malcolm Speed has written to Joshua Okuthe, chairman of the Kenya National Sports Council, to confirm that the ICC will observe the status quo.

"ICC will abide by the ruling of the court and continue to recognise the KCA until otherwise notfied by the court," he wrote.

Conflict

And World Cup organisers expect the games scheduled for Nairobi will go ahead.

"We are very keen that these games take place and are confident that, with eight months still to go, the Kenyan administration will be brought up to speed," said spokesman Rodney Hartman.

Kenya is the next country in line for full membership of the ICC, with the national team having already been granted one-day international status.

The 2000 ICC Knockout Trophy, won by New Zealand, was staged in Nairobi, but the KCA subsequently ran into problems.

A row with 11 of leading players who were sacked after demanding an increase in appearance fees almost ended up in court a year ago.

The dispute led to the cancellation of tours to India and Bangladesh and the KCA accused the players to trying to hold the Association to ransom.

Officials eventually backed down and offered new contracts which guaranteed a pay rise of more than 40 per cent.