NAIROBI, Jan 18: Kenya's cricket crisis escalated on Tuesday when the sport's ex-ruling board, sacked by the country's sports minister last week for mismanagement, won a court order preventing the government from interfering in its operations.

A Nairobi court issued a restraining order barring government action against the Kenya Cricket Association, pending a ruling in a civil suit soon to be filed by its members that aims to quash their dismissal.

The order from high court judge Melton Makhandia also prevents a government-appointed interim committee from taking over the KCA's work and offices in Nairobi's Ruaraka suburb.

The injunctions were sought by the sacked president of the KCA, Sharad Ghai, who claims sports minister Ochilo Ayacko exceeded his mandate and acted improperly when he fired the old board on Friday. -AFP