Kenya players refuse to meet anti-corruption officers

Ten current and former Kenyan players have refused to meet representatives of the ICC's Anti-Corruption Unit in Nairobi next week, claiming that they haven't been given enough notice.

Martin Hawkins and Alan Peacock had been set to travel to Kenya on November 30 to speak to 15 members of the Kenyan side from 1999 and 2000, including team officials, over continuing allegations which stem from the banning of Maurice Odumbe in July.

But Alan Kosgey, a laywer speaking on the players' behalf, told reporters that his clients had "respectfully declined the summons due to the very short notice but they are happy to be interviewed at a future appropriate time." Two of the ten are out of the country - Steve Tikolo is in Bangladesh and Collins Obuya in South Africa.

"The rest have also said they need enough time to prepare for the exercise because they do not know the nature of investigations the officers will take." The Kenyan board (KCA) is powerless to intervene as none of the ten has a contract with it. "They aren't expected to sit around and wait for ICC summons," Kosgey added. Sammy Obingo, the KCA's general manager, said that Hawkins and Peacock would still visit but could only talk to "whoever is available."

The players who have declined the summonses are Tikolo, Obuya, Thomas Odoyo, Kennedy Obuya, Martin Suji, Tony Suji, Jimmy Kamande, Peter Ongondo, Josephat Ababu and Francis Otieno. Three others - Alpesh Vadher, Hitesh Modi and Brijal Patel - have not indicated that they would not be available, although Modi is in Mauritius on his honeymoon.