Pace of reform must accelerate in Kenya - ICC

The Kenya Cricket Association (KCA) must accelerate the pace of reform within Kenyan cricket before it can seriously consider applying for Test status the International Cricket Council said today.

The comments come after two days of meetings between the ICC and the KCA in Nairobi as part of the ICC's African leg of its visit to member countries.

ICC President Ehsan Mani said that the jump from ODI to Test status was huge and that the KCA needs to ensure that it has solid foundations in place before seeking to make the move.

"After Kenya's strong showing in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003, the ICC and the KCA mapped out a series of milestones that need to be passed before any consideration could be given to an application for Test status," said Mr Mani.

"The ICC has committed $US 1 million through to 2005 to make this happen.

"Over the past two days we have been able to see first hand how the KCA is progressing in achieving these objectives.

"While things are moving forward, the pace of progress is too slow. Some deadlines have been missed and we have underlined the need for the KCA to commit to and deliver against the agreed plan."

The ICC/KCA plan identified areas such as:

• the reform of the corporate governance of the KCA including a new constitution
• and fresh elections;
• the employment of a full-time General Manager;
• the strengthening of domestic and age group cricket
• strong on-field performances at the junior and senior levels;
• the development of a sustainable financial base;
• the development of a strategic plan with supporting operational plans and budgets.

ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed said that these were some of the essential elements needed to build a sustainable cricketing base for Kenya.

"These initiatives are all building blocks in creating a cricketing infrastructure capable of sustaining Test cricket.

"The task ahead for the KCA is to ensure that, piece by piece, bit by bit, it is able to put these things in place. Until this has been achieved, the KCA will not be able to demonstrate to the other ICC members that they are ready to make the leap to Test status."

Mr Mani also said that the ICC had agreed to work with the KCA to develop a regular international cricketing program for the Kenyan team.

"All ICC Full Members have previously committed to provide regular international competition for Kenya but, for whatever reason, this has not happened," said Mr Mani.

"The ICC and the KCA both recognise the importance of this type of competition for Kenyan cricket and we will be working together to try and put in place a more regular international calendar for the Kenyan team."

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