BBC SPORT | Cricket | Kenya gets its big shot



By Martin Gough BBC Sport Online

Another week in the international cricketing calendar sees another one-day series in a far-flung location.

But unlike Morocco, where Sri Lanka won a triangular tournament last week, the series that begins on Thursday involves the home team, Kenya.

The series, which sees current World Cup-holders Australia in action, will be vital both for the home team and the Nairobi Gymkhana ground, as both are set to appear in next year's World Cup.

There is no point Kenya being are a full one-day international member if they are not going to play

Andrew Wildblood, TWI

But the fact that the tournament is to be held there owes more to the misfortune of the third team, Pakistan, than the ambitions of the east African nation.

Pakistan's hopes of hosting the series, and making good some of the �16m it has lost because of recent cancelled tours, were shattered in May.

A bomb blast in Karachi killed 11, saw the New Zealand team pull out of their tour and played a major part in Australia's players voicing fears over their own safety.

Sharjah hosted what should have been Pakistan's last home series, against West Indies, and the Pakistan team were in Tangiers for Morocco's debut on the international scene.

But Trans World International, the Pakistan Cricket Board's broadcasting partner, which provides the ruling body with about 90% of its revenue, recommended Nairobi instead.

"We needed a host venue that was not too different in terms of time zone from Pakistan because of the requirements of the Australian broadcaster," TWI senior international vice-president Andrew Wildblood explains.

"The temperature and humidity in Sharjah at this time of year precludes cricket.

"And Morocco was unsuitable because it has no track record and no indigenous cricketing population."

More competition

Cricket was first played in Kenya in 1896, and it has a recent record of hosting top-level international tournaments, most recently the last ICC Knockout tournament two year ago.

New Zealand were expected to be the third team in the line-up, but the invitation was declined at the last moment, and Kenya were asked to fill the breach.

New Zealand players head home
New Zealand left Pakistan after a bomb blast
The emergency call must have come as music to the ears of a side that, despite having official one-day international status, rarely plays at the highest level.

Kenya dealt easily with the opposition of fellow World Cup minnows Namibia and Holland during an ICC six-nation tournament in April.

But if their victories over India, twice, and West Indies in the last six years are to be repeated more regularly, they must play the bigger nations more regularly.

"Kenya are a full one-day international member - a step between associate membership and Test status," Wildblood explains.

"There is no point the ICC creating that level if they are not going to play.

"The ICC has to be seen to be paying more than lip service to its development plan."

KCA uncertainty

Organising the tournament, though, was far from simple because of an internal quarrel between the Kenyan government and the country's cricket association (KCA).

Ricky Ponting batting in the 2000 ICC Knockout
Australia played in Nairobi two years ago
Sports Minister Francis Nyenze dissolved both the KCA and national football body in May because of allegations of financial irregularities, but the ICC insisted it would not recognise a replacement body.

Wildblood, however, insists that the matter was not one that vexed the organisers overly.

"It was a matter that needed consideration but the KCA demonstrated that its authority was still intact, to such an extent that the national side is involved in the tournament," he says.

In the next few weeks, the outside world will find out if Kenya, and its chief venue and its organisers have got what it takes to join cricket's big boys.


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