ICC Knock Out Tourney

International Cricket Council (ICC) President, Jagmohan Dalmiya, has given his personal assurance that Nairobi will host the ICC Knock Out tournament next year.

Mr Dalmiya told a press conference in Nairobi Sep 1 that following his successful one-day inspection tour of the city when he held meetings with the country's top political leadership, he was more than assured there was total government support he sought for Nairobi to get the nod.

He left Nairobi Sep 1 night for London where the ICC top brass is due to meet before end of next week to decide the host.

Nairobi is competing with Sharjah (UAE), Disney World (USA) and Dhaka (Bangladesh) for the second edition of the exclusively Test-nation one-day knock out tournament pencilled for October 5 to 15 next year.

Dhaka hosted the inaugural edition last year.

"Sharjah has far better facilities than Nairobi but, in ICC's new policy of globalisation of the sport, Nairobi has my personal support. The decision will, however, be made by ICC Executive," Dalmiya told a packed press conference in Nairobi shortly after flying back to the city following a tour of the Coastal touristic town of Mombasa where he held talks with Government officials.

Mr Dalmiya met President Daniel Moi and Ministers in charge of Sport, Security, Information and head of the Civil Service.

"I wanted an assurance for total government support. This is almost indispensable for a tournament of this magnitude to be given to a city," he said.

He said the ICC can support Kenya Cricket Association (KCA) in upgrading facilities like a stadium with minimum seating capacity of 15,000 equipped with modern press centre, medical facilities, changing rooms etc.

Mr Dalmiya's inspection tour followed an earlier ICC Development Committee meeting held in Nairobi August 7 to 13. Dr Ali Bacher who heads the committee attended the meeting.

Also present were ICC Chief Executive David Richards, Development Manager Ross Turner and all committee members drawn from all the regions of the world.

Mr Dalmiya declined to commit the ICC in accepting Kenya and Bangladesh automatic qualification to World Cup final in South Africa in 2003, as Dr Bacher said.

He said it will depend on whether the number of finalists will go up to 14. Kenya will host a quadrangular tournament between September 25 to October 5. South Africa, India, Zimbabwe will participate alongside the hosts.