East Africa: In Windhoek for International Cricket Cup

Kenya national cricket team arrived in Namibia yesterday for the International Cricket Council (ICC) Intercontinental Cup match and two World Cricket League matches against hosts. The match was earlier scheduled for Mombasa but had to be relocated to Windhoek for security reasons. Kenya last match was in February against Ireland in Mombasa where they lost the Intercontinental Cup by 10 runs before tying the World Cricket League 1-1.

The World Cricket League is being used as qualifier for 2015 World Cup. Kenya is yet to win any match in the Intercontinental Cup and are placed seventh in the Eight-teams events. However, this time captain Collins Obuya thinks it is totally a different ball game and they are hoping to bounce back.

“I certainly think we can beat Namibia. It will be incredibly tough. We need everyone to be playing very well,” said Obuya. The four-day match will begin on Saturday with the 50 overs World Cricket League set to begin on October 4. Obuya said Namibia would enjoy the crowd support but his boys are confident of pulling an upset.

“We all know what the crowds are like over there especially in the one-day matches. They love their cricket and delivering our skills when the fans are screaming and balls are flying all over the place will also be a challenge. But certainly with this squad, I think we can do something really special,” he said. Kenya will be without pace duo of Elijah Otieno and Alfred Luseno who were axed to a drop in form.

The two have been replaced by youthful duo of Emmanuel Bundi and Lucas Oluoch. The two were impressive in the just concluded East Africa Cricket competition. Others in the 14-man squad are Irfan Karim and Rakep Patel who were adjudged players of the tournament in the East Africa Cricket Cup and league respectively.

EA Cup winning captain Maurice Ouma and team-mates Tanmay Mishra and Nehemiah Odhiambo are also in the team alongside brothers Shem Obado and Shem Ngoche. The rest of the team includes Alex Obanda, Hiren Varaiya, Nelson Odhiambo and Duncan Allan.

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