05 February 2005	Saturday	25 Zilhaj 1425

NAIROBI, Feb 4: The Kenyan government on Friday froze bank accounts of trouble-ridden Kenya Cricket Association (KCA), effectively grounding all its activities amid a row over the management of the sport, officials said.

All activities will remain grounded until a case instituted by the KCA against the government is heard next week, according to a KCA official who insisted on anonymity.

The sports ministry mid January dissolved the KCA and set up an interim committee to run the sport, pending fresh elections in April, but the sacked office bearers rushed to court challenging the decision.

Both sides, who are still in loggerheads over money and a national constitution, are expected to appear in a Nairobi court on February 10. "Until the case is decided we cannot guarantee payments to any of our employees," the KCA official added in Nairobi.

The cash freeze has effectively grounded the training sessions of the national team, which is preparing for the ICC Intercontinental Cup qualifying tournament against Namibia and Uganda at the end of this month.

Others affected are about 30 KCA staff members, including 17 coaches in the national development programme that relies heavily on funding from the International Cricket Council. But doubts have been raised over the KCA spending, amid a long-standing row with national team players over salary payments and allowances. -AFP