Richard Mwangi
24 December 2011
The Cricket Kenya chief executive officer, Tom Sears, has said cricket development in the country will move a notch higher this coming year with the formation of regional junior teams.
“We will have four teams in the under-13, under-15 and under-17 categories. In these categories, we will have two teams from Nairobi and one each from Nakuru and Mombasa” said Sears.
He added: “The boys will be kept busy throughout the year and that will necessitate hiring of more coaches.”
No active youth programme
Lack of active youth programme in the country has been Kenya’s major undoing.
Its the opportune time for Cricket Kenya to borrow a leaf from neighbouring Uganda who have one of the best cricket development programmes in Africa and which has earned the country accolades from the International Cricket Council.
Cricket Kenya should also revive cricket at the secondary school level which its predecessor, Kenya Cricket Association, were running successfully.
The current national team captain, Collins Obuya, was one of the beneficiaries of that programme.
Sears also said that the franchise East Africa Premier League Twenty20 and East Africa Cup limited overs tournament will take off in June. Four teams, two each from Kenya and Uganda, took part in the championship.
Finals yet to take place
However, the finals have not taken place. The finals were postponed twice due to torrential rains that hit most parts of the country in October and November.
The finalists in the Twenty20 event – Rwenzoris Rhinos and Nile knights – are both from Uganda while in limited overs, Kongonis of Kenya will face the Knights when a new date is set for the final.
It is unlikely for the finals to be held in January because Kenya will be touring India as part of their preparations for the Global Twenty20 World Cup qualifiers set for the United Arab Emirates in March and the ICC Intercontinental Cup against Ireland set for Mombasa Sports Club in February.
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