Dispute over but future unclear

The ten-day long dispute between the Kenya Cricket Association (KCA) and 13 striking players appears to be over after the Kenya National Sports Council (KNSC) brokered a truce between the two parties.

"The first move is to settle the players' salary arrears, then other things will follow," said Joshua Okuthe, the KNSC chairman. "We have asked the players to work out the tabulation of what they are owed and forward it to us. We will then forward the same to KCA."

The intervention by the KNSC came after Ochillo Ayacko, the minister for sport, got involved.

One by-product of the negotiations was that a Players' Welfare Committee was agreed which would formulate future contracts for players and take up all issues relating to player welfare.

But it is by no means certain that the players that went on strike will automatically be drafted back into the side. Steve Tikolo, who acted as their unofficial spokesman, was openly critical of Andy Moles, the coach, and Moles and the selectors are believed to be impressed with the performances of the replacements who played against Namibia at the weekend.

Tikolo claims the striking players are still owed around US$4,000 (£2,250) from the World Cup last year, where Kenya reached the semi-finals. He is also demanding a one-year extension to their contracts, which expired on September 30.

"We want all our outstanding allowances and the salaries from last month to be paid in full before we start everything on a clean sheet," said Tikolo. "We don't want the same scenario to repeat itself in the future."

What is certain is that Hitesh Modi will continue as captain. He scored 138 not out in the eight-wicket win over Namibia in the first one-dayer in the three-match series on Tuesday.