Common sense in short supply

If, as is reported, the ICC has refused to allow Kenya to postpone their Intercontinental Cup tie against Namibia due to be played at the end of this month then it might be in the right according to the rules, but it is rather like kicking a man when he is down.

Kenyan cricket is in utter chaos. Three weeks ago the board was suspended by the government (with the fairly clear encouragement of the ICC), and although it is now temporarily back in charge pending a court hearing, it is almost powerless to operate as it has had its accounts frozen - not that it had any money to speak of, a situation exacerbated by reports that the ICC has stopped paying money pending a resolution of the dispute.

What is more, 14 leading players are on strike, as they have been since October last year, and they won't return until the mess is sorted. The national coach, Andy Moles, walked out last month and is now in South Africa, while his deputy, Mudassar Nazir, is desperately seeking assistance to try to find enough players willing to play. An additional factor is that some of the squad named for the match haven't even been contacted by the KCA to let them know that they are supposed to be playing. At the weekend news agencies claimed that salaries of some coaching staff were well in arrears and it has more recently been reported that the coaches have been sent home.

Against this backdrop, the ICC, who has been aware of the shambles inside Kenya for some time, would best serve cricket by agreeing to a postponement. Forcing Kenya to send a virtual 3rd XI to Namibia would serve no purpose other than to gain some officials air miles and hand Namibia a facile victory.

Clearly, delaying the game would be harsh on the Namibians who have been preparing, are ready for the tie, and have done nothing wrong themselves. They would have to be financially recompensed and also possibly offered some other sweeteners - a passing stop by a touring side, as England did in November - to mollify them. But this is one of those occasions where the greater good of the game must come first.

What is going on inside Kenya is not a little local difficulty. The outcome could define the future of the game inside the country, and to avoid the game being dealt a mortal blow, it needs all the help it can get.