Kenya to play seven Twenty20s against Sri Lanka A

Kenya will play seven Twenty20s against Sri Lanka A in Colombo ahead of the World Twenty20 Qualifiers in Dubai. The series, which begins on Sunday after being organised at short notice, will also serve as match practice for several Sri Lanka players, ahead of New Zealand's limited-overs tour of the country.

Sri Lanka Twenty20 captain Dinesh Chandimal will lead the A team, as he did on New Zealand A's recent tour, with Lahiru Thirimanne named vice-captain. Sri Lanka players Shaminda Eranga, Kusal Perera and Jeevan Mendis have also been named in the 24-man preliminary squad, alongside a host of emerging cricketers, including Akila Dananjaya and Kithuruwan Vithanage.

The series will be 42-year-old Steve Tikolo's first assignment after coming out of retirement for the World Twenty20 Qualifiers, and the team will be led by Collins Obuya. Kenya's squad for the series includes all of their WT20 Qualifiers players, and two more, in Gurdeep Singh and Emmanuel Bundi.

Five of the matches will take place at the Colombo Cricket Club and two at the Nondescripts Cricket Club. The series will end on November 2, with the tight schedule made possible by playing two matches a day, on October 29 and 31, and November 2.

The World Twenty20 qualifiers begin on November 15.

Kenya squad:
Collins Obuya (capt), Rakep Patel, Morris Ouma, Nehemiah Odhiambo, Hiren Varaiya, Shem Ngoche, Steve Tikolo, Ragheb Aga, Nelson Odhiambo, Elijah Otieno, Dhiren Gondaria, Thomas Odoyo, Gurdeep Singh, Emmanuel Bundi, Duncan Allan, Irfan Karim

Sri Lanka A squad:
Dinesh Chandimal (capt), Lahiru Thirmanne, Kusal Perera, Mahela Udawatte, Shehan Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Ashan Priyanjan, Kithuruwan Vithanage, Angelo Perera, Danushka Gunathilaka, Yashodha Lanka, Niroshan Dickwella, Ramith Rambukwella, Chaturanga de Silva, Akila Dhananjaya, Seekkuge Prasanna, Milinda Siriwardene, Isuru Udana, Ishan Jayaratne, Kosala Kulasekara, Lahiru Jayaratne, Dilhara Lokuhettige, Jeevan Mendis, Shaminda Eranga