'Kenya is back where it belongs'

If Associate cricket is keen on matching the full members' skill on the field, and we know they are, they're also making a good fist of it off the pitch too. Tonight's lavish sprawl of a closing ceremony for the World Cricket League, at the Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi, was a veritable feast of back-slapping and, on the whole, the praise handed out was much deserved.

"What comes out of this [tournament] is that we need to play each other more often," Samir Inamdar, the Kenya Cricket chairman, said. "All six Associates need to play full members more and I know ICC are doing what it can to persuade full members to play more cricket - and to do more - if cricket is to truly develop into a global sport."

Inamdar's comments are reflective of the event as a whole. Players, administrators, media and the public all recognise that this tournament - in spite of its resounding success - has its limitations. They need to play each other more regularly, but they also need to face Test sides who will stretch their capabilities.

Regardless, the event has been impressively organised, the standard of cricket - on the whole - pleasingly high. The big worry is Bermuda, a side who never appeared to believe they could win. The gap between the minnows and full members is still notable. A disparity in class between the Associates themselves is arguably a more pressing concern.

Another is the non-professional status of most of the teams, something addressed by Matthew Kennedy, the ICC Global Development Manager. "Bearing in mind that in your countries the sport is not yet fully professional, your dedication and desire does not go unnoticed," he said. "In this respect, you are not unlike the pioneers of the past, the cricketing greats of the major Test nations of the 1970s and even 80s, who faced similar challenges and helped to create what the game is now in their respective homelands."

Inamdar finished with a rousing message to the detractors of second-tier cricket, and those who have questioned their ability. "To all the doubting people, to all the purveyors of doom and gloom who have, in their better judgement, sniped at this administration and the national team and their respective performance, I hope this performance by the Kenya national team has answered all your questions and doubts," he said. "And to you, I have a very simple message: Kenya is back where it belongs."

It is, too. Kenya have shown themselves to be a very fine one-day side, well marshalled by their coach, Roger Harper, who has instilled a fierce determination not commonly associated with them. Of the six Associates, Kenya has shone the brightest. As the tournament hosts it was their evening but, however partisan the acclaim, they deserve it.