Kenya appoint first female chairman

Cricket Kenya has created a piece of history by electing a woman as its new chairman, the first female to head a national cricket board.

Jackie Janmohammed, a Nairobi-based lawyer, was unanimously elected to replace Samir Inamdar, who held the post for seven-and-a-half years.

"I take this opportunity to thank the cricket fraternity for placing their trust for leadership under me," Janmohammed said. "I would like to make a covenant of uniting everyone for the benefit of the sport and my only agenda will be to grow the sport and achieve measurable results."

She served as a legal advisor to the old Kenya Cricket Association and will be responsible for implementing the findings of a comprehensive review that was carried out in the wake of Kenya's disastrous 2011 World Cup campaign - their worst performance in a World Cup.

Kenya were hammered by New Zealand - who bowled them out for 69 - Pakistan and Sri Lanka, handsomely beaten by Australia and, of most concern, swept aside by Zimbabwe and comfortably beaten by Canada - an alarming set of results only eight years on from a semi-final in 2003.

"My short term plans are to ensure both the national Under-19 and the senior men's team qualify for the next World Cup," she said. "Kenya play Canada in the UAE in March, in a match we need to win to stay in contention for the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand."

Kenya currently lie sixth in the ICC World Cricket League Championship, with the top two teams in the group automatically qualifying for the 2015 World Cup. Kenya have six points with two matches to play. Ireland top the table with 13 points, Scotland are second with 11.

Should Kenya miss out on automatic qualification, they will still have a route to the World Cup via the qualifying tournament in 2014.