We will know the strength of the Kenyan development team that played in the last 3-day game (which Bangladesh A team won) in the near future:
Kenyan team in Lusaka
to defend Africa Cricket Cup
By RICHARD MWANGI
and STEPHEN OUMA
The Kenya Development team left for Zambia yesterday to take part in Africa Cup which starts tomorrow.
Kenya will be defending their title in the Lusaka tournament.
The countries taking part will this time round sigh with relief as Kenya's prolific batsman, Steve Tikolo, is not on the roster. Tikolo made an appearance at the last edition of the continental tournament in 2000 thoroughly outclassing players from other developing African nations.
"We are not sending to Zambia any player who have played one day international matches," Nasoor Verjee, the Kenya Cricket Development Programme's development director, assured when naming the Development team last week.
The side will be captained by Francis Otieno, one of the national players contracted by the Kenya Cricket Association.
Otieno will be assisted by Ragheb Aga, who skippered the Kenya Under-19 squad to the World Cup held in New Zealand in January. Other players in the Lusaka squad include Charles Ochieng Obuya, a younger brother to Kenya's opening batsman, Kennedy Otieno. Two other Obuya brothers – David Oluoch and Collins Omondi – are also in Kenya's national team currently playing in the PSO Triangular Tournament.
Morris Ouma, who kept wicket for the Under-19 team in New Zealand, will play the same role in Zambia. He is also an aggressive right-hand batsman.
Other players in the team are Manoj Patel, Ameet Bhudia, Andrew Mboya, Alfred Luseno, Divyesh Shah, Rajesh Premji, Nehemiah Odhiambo, Jadvji Bhimji, Hiren Vivaya and Anand Gore.
Rajab Ali, a former international player, is team's coach while Atul Patel, the KCA assistant treasurer travelled as team manager.
The team's morale was boosted on Thursday when they fought gallantly in a three-day game against the much more experienced Bangladesh 'A' at Aga Khan Sports.
The tourists who had Test players in their team like Javed Omer (228 from 237 balls) set a mammoth target of 502 for five declared in the second day of the three-dayer.
Skipper Otieno, who has been struggling with the bat, scored 84 from 105 deliveries that included 17 boundaries in the Development team's second innings. The other player who has shown remarkable improvement with the bat is Bhimji.
The Development team managed a second innings 292 to add on their first innings total of 248 leaving Bangladesh 'A' a feeble 38 runs to chase off 13 overs which they did with ease.
The tourists returned home yesterday.
Uganda, meanwhile, is the other team to look out for at the Africa Cup in Lusaka.
They have been grouped with Kenya and South Africa in a very tough group 'A' that also includes Nigeria and Malawi. Group 'B' has Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, Namibia and Tanzania.
The Ugandans face Nigeria in their opening match tomorrow.
Uganda Cricket Association (UCA) secretary Justin Ligyalingi says the team comprises of talented young players who are capable of putting up brilliant show in Lusaka.
Source:
http://www.nationaudio.com/News/Dail..._Review17.html