Battle rages over Kenya's domestic league

Everyone acknowledges that Kenya need to build their domestic cricket base before they advance into the Test-playing arena, but who should be in charge of the operation appears to be holding back the game's development.

A surprise semi-finalist at the recent World Cup, Kenya are looking to introduce domestic leagues but a dispute between the game's ruling body in the country, the Kenyan Cricket Association, and the Nairobi Provincial Cricket Association has broken out.

The International Cricket Council has committed to helping the setting up of domestic cricket to the tune of US$1 million over the next two years.

The Government has come down on the side of the Nairobi Association, but the game's ruling body wants to disaffiliate the Nairobi body and launch its own league in the nation's capital. The Nairobi Association wants to run a 20-team league and it had hoped to start on Sunday. However, the wrangle is likely to result in a month's delay.

Even as the two sides squabble, they acknowledge that the dispute is costing them time in the development of Kenya's cricket - and might even be delaying their elevation to Test status.