Kenyan cricket has been on a downhill slide since the 2003 World Cup

The plan was thrashed out at a 16-hour meeting between African Cricket Association officials and the two rival boards vying for control in Kenya.

They will merge to jointly run the game until the elections on 21 May.

"The only way forward is having the two committees working for one objective," said Zimbabwe's Peter Chingoka, head of the ACA delegation.

"The International Cricket Council has been greatly disturbed by the whole scenario," he added.

Kenya shocked the international cricket community by reaching the semi-finals of the 2003 World Cup in South Africa.

But the game has gone backwards since then with players involved in strikes for more money and allegations of match-fixing.

Former skipper Maurice Odumbe was handed a five-year ban last August after being found guilty of receiving money from a bookmaker.

Administrative problems have also hampered the national team's progress and resulted in the government dissolving the Kenya Cricket Association in January following claims of financial mismanagement.

A new body called Cricket Kenya was put in charge, but it has not been recognised by the ICC.

The national team, meanwhile, has not played since last November but have an Intercontinental Cup game against Uganda scheduled.

Former Pakistan Test batsman Mudassar Nazar has flown to Nairobi to take charge of the team's preparations.

"I am hoping we will get on with the game and forget the politics," he 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."