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| March 4, 2003 | Tuesday | Zul Hijjah 30, 1423 |
Kenyans fear for the future
NAIROBI, March 3: Kenya’s joy at reaching the World Cup Super Six was cut short on Monday when some of the country’s top players warned that the game at home was in danger of collapse.
There has been growing concern that Kenyan youngsters are not being encouraged to take up the sport, and with most of the current World Cup squad over 30, there are worries that the country will not be able to mount another serious challenge at the next tournament in the West Indies in 2007.
“I don’t see us playing in the next World Cup,” one of the senior players in the team said.
“There is no serious competition in the country and the youth are not motivated to play cricket,” said the player, who asked not to be named.
Kenya have been the revelation of the World Cup by reaching the Super Six and their performance has meant that two Test-playing nations from their group will not be involved in the later stages.
The West Indies are already out with the second casualty to come from either New Zealand, South Africa or Sri Lanka.
Awarded One-day International status in 1997, Kenya applied for Test status last year, and the request will be considered at the next ICC meeting in London in June.
The Kenya Cricket Association (KCA) is quick to point out that the country’s success in the World Cup in South Africa is not the only reason why Kenya should be accorded the highest status.
“Our success in the tournament has come through our own initiative,” said KCA chairman Sharad Ghai.
“Now it is time for the ICC and the Test-playing nations to give us the much-needed exposure we need to improve our game.”
Ghai said the KCA would hold a seminar in April to chart out the future of the sport in the country.
Of immediate concern is the resumption of the national league which was discontinued last year following a row between the KCA and the Nairobi Provincial Cricket Association over the management of clubs.
A new league set-up would entail the establishment of a longer version of the game, which is a major requirement for the ICC to grant a country the Test status.—AFP
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