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NAIROBI, Feb 7: Following are pen-sketches of Kenya World Cup squad:
STEVE TIKOLO
Born: June 25, 1971. Captain. ODI debut: v India at Cuttack, 1996. 51 matches, 1448 runs, av 30.80, 1 century. 28 wkts, av 41.50. Regarded as the best batsman outside Test cricket, he gained promotion to captain Kenya after Maurice Odumbe stepped down in April 2002. His knack for scoring runs were first noticed when Kenya toured South Africa in 1995 where he immediately impressed one of the country’s top provincial sides, Border, who signed him to become a professional.
HITESH MODI
Born: Oct 13, 1971. Vice-captain. ODI debut: v India at Cuttack, 1996. 41 matches, 800 runs, av 25.80. The only left-handed batsman in the team comes from a cricketing family with father Subash having played for Kenya and later becoming an umpire.
JOSEPH ANGARA
Born: Nov 8, 1971. ODI debut: v India at Chennai, 1998. 15 matches, 23 runs, av 4.60. 11 wkts, av 41.18. Most accomplished game so far was against India in the triangular one-series in South Africa in October 2002. Angara grabbed three wickets as Kenya beat India for the second time in four years. But was not fortunate enough to complete the series as he was forced to return home prematurely following the death of his mother.
ASIF KARIM
Born: Dec 15, 1963. ODI debut: v India at Cuttack, 1996. 30 matches, 228 runs, av 12.66. 24 wkts, 43.50. Slow left-spinner, he was recalled from retirement to help bolster the team after his understudy Mohammed Sheikh went for further studies in Australia. He captained Kenya to the 1999 World Cup and he is highly respected by his team-mates. The only player to have taken five wickets in a ODI and a controlled economy rate of 4.39 in his innings.
COLLINS OBUYA
Born: July 7, 1981. ODI debut: v West Indies at Nairobi, 2001. 16 matches, 148 runs, av 13.45. 7 wkts, av 89.42. He has the height and the reach of a world-class batsman but still needs to work. The youngest member of the squad, he will be making his first appearance at the top level. He bowls at off-break pace.
DAVID OBUYA
Born: Aug 14, 1979. ODI debut: v West Indies at Nairobi, 2001. 16 matches, 143 runs, av 9.43. He is steadily following in the footsteps of his brother, Kennedy as batsman and keeping wicket. His team-mates have nicknamed him Lion because he talks and walks and is even said to possess the heart of the King of the Jungle.
KENNEDY OBUYA
Born: March 11, 1972. ODI debut: v India at Cuttack, 1996. 49 matches, 1219 runs, av 25.93, 2 centuries. A gifted batsman and the country’s number one wicket-keeper. The older of three brothers in the side, his experience as served as motivation to not only his sibling (who even adopted his surname of Otieno) but the rest of the team.
THOMAS ODOYO
Born: May 12, 1978. ODI debut: v India at Cuttack, 1996. 51 matches, 875 runs, av 20.34. 45 wkts, av 40.57. A genuine all-rounder, his prodigious talents were noticed as a teenager, but he has not been able to exploit them to the full in the recent past. Was elevated to vice-captain but was subsequently dropped after the tour of Zimbabwe last December.
MAURICE ODUMBE
Born: June 15, 1969. ODI debut: v India at Cuttack, 1996. 50 matches, 1085 runs, av 23.58. 30 wkts, av 48.00. A gifted all-rounder, he led Kenya to their first World Cup appearance in 1996. His outspoken views always landed him in trouble with the Kenyan authorities although the colourful player could quickly turn his off-the-field problems to scoring runs.
PETER ONGONDO
Born: Feb 10, 1977. ODI debut: v South Africa at Nairobi, 1999-2000. 8 matches, 43 runs, av 8.60. 1 wkt. Medium-pace change bowler and hard-hitting lower-order batsman. Represented Kenya in the Africa Cup in Namibia in 1997.
BRIJAL PATEL
Born Nov 14, 1977. ODI debut: v West Indies at Nairobi, 2000-01. 13 matches, 191 runs, av 27.28. 2 wkts. A sound right-handed batsman who bowls slow left-arm orthodox. Excellent fielder. Son of former national wicket-keeper Jagdish C. Patel. Went through a poor domestic season before the World Cup.
RAVINDU SHAH
Born: Aug 28, 1972. ODI debut: v Bangladesh at Hyderabad (India), 1998. 33 matches, 827 runs, av 25.06. No wkts. Having played in English club cricket in the mid-90s, he easily adapted to the local conditions with ease as a batsman. However, he has not been able to transform his aggressive stroke play when he bowls off medium pace.
MARTIN SUJI
Born: June 2, 1971. ODI debut: v India at Cuttack, 1996. 49 matches, 179 runs, av 7.78. 33 wkts, av 50.66. He’s the team’s second most experienced quick bowler with a personal best of four for 24. A witty player, he has one distinct delivery that can catch a batsman off guard. Also a useful lower-order batsman.
TONY SUJI
Born: June 2, 1976. ODI debut: v Zimbabwe at Nairobi, 1996. 35 matches, 307 runs, av 12.79. 10 wkts, av 74.60.The second of two talented brothers in the team. Naturally a quiet person, he’s gifted both as a middle-order batsman and right arm paceman. He’s still the holder of the world seventh wicket stand of 119 with team-mate Thomas Odoyo.
ALPESH VADHER
Born: Sept 7, 1974. ODI debut: v Bangladesh at Nairobi, 1998. 18 matches, 278 runs, av 27.80. Trained accountant, he’s a brilliant fielder who has been brought back from retirement. He started playing cricket at the tender of 13 before being selected into the national team as left arm spin bowler.—AFP
