It was a typically Australian gesture, parading the ‘chosen’ World Cup 2003 squad and inheritors of the crown earned by Steve Waugh’s team at Lord’s against the amateurs of Africa. Yet the world can no longer disregard Kenya as being a group of assegai wielding warriors. The size of their community would fit into an area such as Goa, yet the enthusiasm generated by the 250 members or so of Kenya’s growing cricket association is the sort of international window which needs exposure. What better publicity than having arrived at the tournament and then performing the impossible: a semi-final place against India five days from now.Suddenly the mouse grew a shaggy mane and roared and the crowd embraced their spirited cause as the money they are likely to earn helps develop their game, so has the enthusiasm of the African spirit caught on. Kenya, six weeks ago were the nation of wannabe heroes, the nation who wanted to emulate South Africa and Zimbabwe, the continent’s big brother and little cousin of the ICC Test countries.Today they have reached the place which South Africa once thought they would have filled, a place in the semi-finals and the Kingsmead crowd, which 13 days ago groaned with anguish as Shaun Pollock’s side were rained out of the competition against Sri Lanka, cheered the third of four African sides in the competition.Yet there are problems in the East African nation which need sorting out before the country can move forward towards full status within the ICC. One is the size of the cricket community, the second is sponsorship and the honest policing of accounts and removal of officials who might use the funds for their own ends.Serious questions posed are giving thought to the infrastructure of the game in Kenya; the strength of the game outside Nairobi; is there an infrastructure to support a first-class programme, what finances or sponsorships are there to support this programme? If so, who controls such funds?Kenya’s Minister of Sport, Francis Nyenze, last year suspended the Kenya Cricket Association on charges of corruption which was challenged in the courts. Because of the World Cup the case against the KCA was held over. Yet the charges have to be answered.As it is, the KCA’s administrators need to sort out the financial irregularities before the ICC can move in any direction. Funds likely to pour into the country from their World Cup 2003 success will run into thousands of unexpected dollars; how much of this money the team will receive is a matter which could worry the ICC.The ICC’s own development and growth programme includes a competition which involves several countries playing in a tournament in Nairobi in June and July. Among them are World Cup 2003 nations Holland, Canada and Namibia and Scotland who were in the 1999 tournament. Clearly, much more has to be done before any thought of Test status can be considered.
