Tikolo appeals for help

Steve Tikolo, Kenya's captain, has appealed to sponsors and the ICC to help develop cricket in his country. After Kenya's loss to the Windward Islands in the Carib Beer series this weekend, Tikolo lamented the fact that it is extremely difficult for the game to grow.

At present, all that exists is a one-day tournament which started in 1987, but lacks any sponsorship "We do not have a first-class season and all we play is one-day cricket," Tikolo said. "This is no preparation for the longer version of the game."

Tikolo did reveal that the Kenyan authorities are considering the introduction of a three-day tournament in the next few months, but he said that is likely to be an uphill struggle without sponsorship. "Cricket is just catching on as a popular sport in Kenya and has to rival football and athletics," he said, "so to attract sponsors is not going to be easy."

Kenya surprisingly made the semi-finals of the 2003 World Cup, but Tikolo insisted that achievement has done nothing in terms of support and sponsorship. "The ICC have more or less turned their backs on us since our showing in the tournament, and save for a limited-overs tournament in Sharjah, we have not had any serious cricket."

Tikolo's comments come in the wake of Andy Moles, the coach, who insisted the ICC should grant Kenya Test status.