Selectors delay as future grows bleak for KCA

Kenya's selectors have delayed naming a squad for their Intercontinental Cup match against Namibia, in view of growing doubts surrounding the future of the Kenyan Cricket Association.

The selectors met in Nairobi this morning, but it soon became clear that some had deep reservations as to their authority to pick a side to represent the country against such a backdrop, and also with so many leading players either unavailable or on strike.

Officially, the naming of the squad was delayed to allow the availability of certain individuals to be confirmed, but Cricinfo understands that it is unlikely that any announcement will be made until the ICC makes a ruling on the authority of Cricket Kenya, the government-backed new body, to run Kenyan cricket.

Cricket Kenya was officially recognised by the Registrar of Societies in Nairobi earlier today, and meetings of all the provincial associations will take place tonight to decide if they are willing to support it and not the KCA. If the provinces do give CK their support then Ochillo Ayacko, the sports minister, is likely to request an urgent meeting with the ICC to ask for its backing. If the ICC does so - and given its recent attitude towards the conduct of the KCA, that seems a real possibility - then CK could be running Kenyan cricket as soon as the end of this week.

That would leave the KCA totally marginalised. About all it would be left to worry about would be forthcoming legal action against it brought jointly by the Coast Cricket Association and the Nairobi Provincial Cricket Association - that case is due to be heard in Mombasa tomorrow - and another action by Nairobi Gymkhana over an outstanding debt. A hearing over the legality of the minister's action, scheduled for March 7, would then be rendered a virtual irrelevance.