Kenya cricket team off to Harare for T20 World Cup quest

The teams will warm up for the competition with two friendly matches each in Harare. Kenya are in Group “A” alongside Namibia, Nigeria and Malawi. Group “B” comprises Test nation Zimbabwe, Uganda, Tanzania and Botswana.

“We are doing really well in all the departments. There is nothing to worry about, we just need to execute our plans,” said Kenya’s captain Dhiren Gondaria.

“There are two teams going to the World Cup; we just need to play our good cricket and leave other things to the Almighty,” added the Kanbis Cricket Club man. Kenya’s coach Joseph Angara is also optimistic that the team can qualify for the World Cup.

“Why not? Why not?” responded Angara when asked if Kenya stood a chance of qualifying for the World Cup.

“T20 is a funny game. 200 runs can be chased, 100 can be defended. The pressure is on them (favourites Zimbabwe, Namibia and Uganda) since they have beaten us all along, so when we are playing them, they have everything to lose against us. We just need to go out and express ourselves,” added the former Kenya international.

Kenya have yet to qualify for a senior cricket World Cup since 2011.

Kenya boasts five World appearances, four One Day International – 1996, 1999, 2003 and 2011 and one T20 (2007).

Kenya’s campaign for the qualifiers in Harare received a major boost following the donations of Sh1 million by businessman Bhavesh Gohil and $10,000 (Sh1, 291,900) by former Cricket Kenya (CK) chairlady Jackie Janmohamed.

The funds will cater for the players’ allowances and meals.

According to CK's Chief Executive Officer Ronald Bukusi, the well-wishers came to the team’s rescue after counties’ representative, Kennedy Obuya, who also serves as the federation's acting treasurer, “refused” to sign a cheque to facilitate withdrawal of funds from CK’s I&M Bank account.

“We cannot access the account. Kennedy (Obuya) ‘refused’ to sign the cheque,” said Bukusu.

“We are grateful that we have people who have confidence in our abilities to manage the game,” he added.

However, Obuya denied that he had refused to sign the cheque. “Zero, nothing! The CEO told us there were no funds to hold the Special General Meeting. Now all of a sudden money has reappeared in the account,” said Obuya.

CK’s account signatories are Chairman Manoj Patel, Bukusi and Obuya.

Division has emerged in the CK’s board over a proposed high-profile competition that was to be organised by Dunai-based sports promotion company AOS Tournament.

The CK and AOS Sports Tournament signed a five-year renewable deal worth Sh255 million in April.

While Manoj and Obuya have been pushing for the tournament’s start on November 7, the seven other board members have resisted the plans on the grounds that it has yet to be sanctioned by the ICC as required by law.

They are Bukusi, Thomas Odoyo ( Development Director) Pearlyne Omamo (Director Women’s Cricket), Mary Maina, Beryl Oyugi, Pauline Njeri and Tariq Iqbal. On September 12, the board, by “a majority resolution”, terminated the federation’s contract with AOS, citing multiple irregularities, including governance breaches and bribery attempts.

Kenya’s squad  

Dhiren Gondaria (captain)

Francia Mutua

Pushkar Sharma

Neil Mugabe

Peter Koech

Sachin Gill

Sachin Bhudia

Vishil Patel

Sukhdeep Singh

Lucas Ochieng

Rakep Patel

Vraj Patel

Jasraj Kundi

Nelson Odhiambo