Umpires boycott Nairobi's twenty20 tournament

Kenya's umpires are boycotting the country's premier club Twenty20 tournament in a dispute over payments.

The Nairobi Provincial Cricket Association (NPCA) Twenty league started last month, but so far matches have taken place with club officials standing in for the absent Kenya Cricket Umpires & Scorers Association members.

Money is the stumbling block. "The umpires are earning heft money yet the NPCA is experiencing a financial crunch," association chairman John Moyi explained. "We failed to reach agreement and they decided to boycott the matches.

"I know umpires are important but our hands are tied. We only receive Sh160,000 (US$2000) as subscription fees from 32 clubs and yet the umpires payment is Sh400,000 (US$5000)."

Ibrahim Hussein, the KCUSA chairman, blamed a lack of contact regarding changes in the format of the competition.