Through years that Kenya has emerged to be a cricket playing nation, offers pride at the footsteps that the game and its administrators have taken over the last many years, and for more, the last century.
Seeds planted by the Indian Coolies in the country to construct the Mombasa-Kisumu Railway have sprouted into what has become one of the most successful sporting activities in the country.
Three World Cup appearances and uncountable encounters with the leading players in the game confirm in more than one way, the capability of cricket of being a leading sport.
Perhaps cricket like no other sport in the country has brought to Nairobi, the best in the sport at one given time, something that is not easy to achieve, given the conditions that most sports are played.
Cricket like everything else in Kenya has had to pass through its pioneering stages. The game was first played in Mombasa in 1896 when everything had to be done in more or less sketchy manner. In the course of the time however, the need to introduce some sort of system and orderliness for conducting the game became essential. In the context then existing it was inevitable that the Asian cricket was controlled by Asian Sports Association (founded in 1912) whilst the European cricket was controlled by Kenya Kongonis Cricket Club (founded in 1927).
Although the two organizations controlled and organized the game for their respective communities extremely well, they worked in complete mutual accord as a result of which the annual Asian-vs-Europeans, 3 day fixture was born in 1933. This fixture remained the most important annual event in the cricket season for 32 years.
However, in early 1950 it became obvious that the administration and organization of the Game at top level must be completely streamlined by evolving a single body out of the two organizations, at the same time allowing them to retain separate entities. Thus was born in the year 1953, the Kenya Cricket Association - the first inter-racial organization of its type in Kenya. This arrangement continued until 1960, when the two organizations ceased to have representation on the national body, and Kenya cricket Association management came to rest in the hands of its own members, irrespective of colour.
As it became apparent that an umpires body was necessary to control the officiating at all the matches organized by A.S.A. and K.I.C.C., thus in 1950, the Kenya Cricket Umpires Association was formed.
Two annual fixtures dominated the earlier years of Kenya Cricket. The Official-Settlers annual match played by Europeans from 1910-1957 (breaks during war years). Settlers winning 18 officials 14 and 5 drawn. The Asian - European match played during the New Year period over 3 days was played from 1933 to 1966 (once again with a break during war years). Asians won 13, Europeans 11 and 6 drawn, at one stage Europeans were leading 11 matches two.
Kenya Cricket hit the international trail in 1951, when inter-territorial matches started between Kenya, Tanganyika and Uganda, with the first being played at Nairobi Club on 1st, 2nd and 3rd December 1951. Kenya won by innings and 27 runs. In the same year, Rhodesian Stragglers visited Kenya and were hosted by K.K.C.C. In 1952 Natal Cricket Union came to Kenya with players like Ossie Dawson and Endean in their ranks.
These were followed by Pakistan C.W.C. (hosted by Kenya Muslim Sports Association), captained by A. H. Kardar and having no fewer than 8 Test players including great Hanif Mohammed. In 1957 Sunder C.C. from India (hosted by Kathiawar S. C.) and had players like Mushtaq Ali, Vinoo Mankad, P. Roy, Contractor and Jasu Patel. In 1957 a very strong M.C.C. (hosted by K.K.C.C.) included Freddie Brown, M.J.K. Smith, Jack Bailey, Billy Griffiths, J.J. Warr, Denis Silk, G.H.G. Doggart, and in 1958 South African non-Europeans came as guests of Asian Sports Association, captained by Basil D'Oliviera.
The earlier tours out of Kenya besides Kongonis English tours started in 1929. They toured Rhodesia in 1952, whilst Kenya Asians toured South Africa in 1956.
These were the early pioneering days as far as international cricket and tours from and to Kenya were concerned. After this there has been very regular flow of visits, the most famous used to be Ron Roberts International XI which brought to Kenya players like Richie Benaud, Everten Weekes, Freddie Trueman, S. Gupta, Ramadhin, B. S. Bedi and many more.
The annual Quadrangular tournament for Sir Robert Menzies Cup, played between Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia under the umbrella of East African Cricket Conference became an important event from 1966 to 1980. This was played in each respective country by rotation and Kenya won 9, Zambia 4, Uganda 1 and Tanzania 1.
This fixture and E.A.C.C.'s good standing at I.C.C. brought recognition when in 1975 East Africa took part in the first World Cup in England, being the first non-Test playing country ever to do so. The other teams were England, Australia, West Indies, India, Pakistan, New Zealand and Sri Lanka. Kenya provided seven of the 14 players of the team and the Manager. These being Harilal Shah (Captain) Jawahir Shah, Zulfiqar Ali, Don Pringle, Mehmood Quraishy, Farsat Ali and Ramesh Sethi with Jasmer Singh (Manager).
Considering that Kenya dominated the East African cricket to a great extent, it was felt that Kenya should join the International Cricket Conference it its own right and in 1981 Kenya broke away from E.A.C.C. and were the same year accepted as members of I.C.C. having taken part in the 1979 I.C.C. Trophy as part of East Africa, Kenya in 1982, 1986 and 1990 took part in their own right, reaching the semi finals in 1990, their best then ever. The two most important and very vital developments in the last decade has been the emergence of Indigenous Kenyan cricketers on the scene like a whirlwind, they are a dominating factor in Kenya and the future of the game looks bright, secondly top level cricket is played on Turf Wickets, there being eleven clubs in Kenya with turf wickets.
The local cricket season runs from June to February and is dominated by League Cricket, which in Nairobi is comprised of two divisions, with 10 teams in each division. All matches in the Premier League, that is Division 1 are played on grass wickets and is considered to be the cream of Kenya cricket. Over the last few years, professional cricketers, mainly from India and some from Pakistan have tended to play a vital role in this at the expense of local young talent.
Besides the League, which covers about sixty per cent of the season, there are three knockout tournaments played in Nairobi. One of the Senior Knockout tournaments usually caters for 2 or 3 Mombasa teams. All of these are based on overs cricket, with the league on 50 over basis and the senior knockout on 60 over basis.
After the 1990 I.C.C. Trophy in Holland where Kenya reached the semi finals, cricket began to blossom, in 1991 Lancashire C.C.C. visited Kenya followed by Gloucestershire C.C.C. in 1992. Later in the year Zimbabwe Test side on their way back from Pakistan stopped over for one 50 overs match, which Kenya won.
In 1993, Indian Test side on their way home from South Africa stopped over in Nairobi for 50 overs match in which Kenya did well to reply with 220/8 to India's 267/7. Natal Province team from South Africa and M.C.C. with Roger Knight as captain toured Kenya and Kenya registered wins against both.
In February 1994 Kenya hosted the 5th I.C.C. Trophy in Nairobi. 20 Associate member countries participated in a very successful and extremely well organised tournament. U.A.E. (taking part for the first time) won the tournament. Kenya did well to reach the final, and in doing so qualified for the 1996 World Cup along with U.A.E. and third placed Holland.
Later in the year Transvaal and Border Province teams from South Africa toured Kenya, consolidating relations between the two countries. In December 1994 Kenya organised a triangular tournament for the three qualifying countries: U.A.E., Kenya and Holland. This tournament was won by Holland, who beat Kenya in the final. Kenya registering two wins over U.A.E. and one over Holland in the round robin.
1995 was an equally busy season. Kenya team visited Bangladesh in the earlier part and later Kenya Development team participated in the Africa Zone 6 tournament for the Confederation Cup in Tanzania. Kenya won the tournament, beating Tanzania in the final. In August an India "A" team captained by Indian Test player A. Jadeja and with Test players Kambli, Raju, Chauhan and Ankola played 5 one-day internationals. India "A" winning four and Kenya one.
After the India "A" visit, Kenya team toured South Africa for the fist time on an extensive 23 day tour, playing all the provinces and for the first time played five 50 over day/night matches with the last match against Northern Transvaal being televised live in South Africa and watched by thousands in Kenya. Kenyan player Steve Tikolo stayed behind to play as a professional for The Border Province.
In December, Holland came to Kenya for a short visit, playing four 50 overs one-day matches against Kenya. The visitors fielded almost the team that took part in the World Cup, Kenya won all the four matches. During November/December former England Test player Peter Lever spent four weeks coaching the Kenya squad along with former Indian Test player Hanumant Singh.
In February/March 1996 Kenya made their debut in the World Cup and immediately made an impression, scoring over 200 runs against India and Australia and then stunned the world by beating the West Indies. In their last match they scored 254/7 wkts, against Sri Lanka. The highest total against them in the World Cup.
In September the same year Kenya staged a very successful Four Nation Sameer Group tournament in Nairobi with Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa and Kenya, and they went on to put up creditable performances.
Then in March 1997, Kenya once again reached the final of the I.C.C. Trophy in Malaysia going down on the last ball of the reduced overs match but having already been assured of a place in the World Cup. In July Kenya and Bangladesh were accorded One-Day International status by the I.C.C., soon after, there were visits by Northern Transvaal and New Zealand. This was followed in October by a Three-Nation Tournament in Nairobi involving Kenya, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.
Kenya beat Bangladesh in all matches, but lost to Zimbabwe in the final. However they had the satisfaction of breaking two world records for the first and seventh wickets, the latter stand against Zimbabwe of 119 runs between Thomas Odoyo and Tony Suji still stands.
In May 1998 Kenya landed an invitation to the Three Nation Coca Cola tournament in India, involving the host country and Bangladesh. In this tournament Kenya registered another milestone victory against India and beat Bangladesh once to reach the final, which India won. Kenya's Steve Tikolo was adjudged the "Man of the Tournament".
In August Alvin Kallicharan arrived to become Kenya's coach, after brief stints by Sandeep Patil and Roger Binney. A month later Kenya participated in the Commonwealth Games.
In October, Kenya Cricket received its biggest ever boost when Kenya Breweries, at the end of 1998, decided to sponsor the National team for a period of 5 years, thus bringing in the element of professionalism in the game and opening the doors for young players to make cricket their livelihood.
The last two preparations for the World Cup were a visit by the M.C.C. team in February 1999, Kenya winning all the four one day matches and the Three Nation Tournament along with Bangladesh and Zimbabwe in Dhaka in March 1999. Kenya lost in the final to Zimbabwe but beat Bangladesh in both matches to bring their One Day International record to, played 25, won 7, lost 17, abandoned 1.
In May Kenya took part for the second time in the World Cup in England. Playing in the stronger group, with Zimbabwe, India, England, South Africa and Sri Lanka. Kenya did not win a single game, but created a good impression, especially batting and fielding. Maurice Odumbe and Alpesh Vadher set up a World Cup 6th wicket record of 161 runs against Sri Lanka. At the end of the World Cup, Kenya's One Day International record was: played 30, won 7, lost 22, abandoned 1.
In July Sandeep Patil once again took over as Coach of the National team until 2003 World Cup. During the same month Kenya hosted the International Cricket Council Development Committee Meeting in Nairobi.
In October Kenya staged their second major 4 Nation, L.G. Cup tournament in which India, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya participated.
The year 2000 which was an extremely busy one, which put Kenya on the World map, with the staging of the 11 Nation Knockout tournament, in October in Nairobi, the second of its kind, and certainly the biggest cricket tournament ever in Africa. It was extremely well organised and was a great success. I.C.C. also held their Board of Directors and other meetings during that period in Nairobi.
Prior to the tournament Kenya took part and won the Emerging Nations tournament in Harare in April, toured India in May. In July/August Kenya hosted three major tours, with Pakistan "A", Karnatka State and Plascon Academy respectively visiting Kenya. Kenya won the series 4-1 against Pakistan "A" and 4-1 against Karnatka.
The year 2001 was probably Kenya's busiest, with visit by Sri Lanka 'A' in January, a tour that was hampered by the wet weather. Kenya drew their 4-day match. In August West Indies became the first Test playing country to make a full tour of Kenya, and Kenya drew one and lost one of the 3-day matches. This was followed by visits from Mumbai and Baroda to take part in a triangular tournament, which Kenya won beating Mumbai in the final.
In October Kenya participated in a triangular tournament in South Africa, with India and South Africa and stunned the world again by beating India. This was followed by a visit by Zimbabwe 'A', Kenya, won the three-day series 1-0 and drawing one. Kenya won the 1-day series 3-2. (Leading 3-0, Kenya fielded 'A' team players, losing last two matches.)
In January 2002, Kenya undertook a tour of Sri Lanka, though losing the 3 four-day matches, Kenya registered 2-1 win in the OD series against a formidable opposition boasting nine players who have played Test matches or ODI's. MCC paid their 6th visit to Kenya in February/March 2002 and Kenya won the 1-day series 5-0 in a very convincing manner over a team consisting of 3 Test and rest all County players.
In April Kenya took part in the 6 Nations "Emerging Nations" tournament in Namibia along with Zimbabwe "A", Sri Lanka "A", Holland, Canada and Namibia, which Kenya won, beating Sri Lanka "A" in the final. In June, C.L.S. Dubai team visited Kenya and played a series of one-day matches against a KCA XI.
Punjab, one of the stronger provincial sides from India visited Kenya in July/August. Kenya won the two 4-day series by 1-0, but drew the four one-day series 2-2. This was followed by a visit by Bangladesh "A", Kenya drew one three-day match, but won the one-day series 3-0.
Pakistan Cricket Board selected Kenya as the venue in early September for the 3 Nation P.S.O. tournament involving Pakistan, Australia and Kenya. Kenya lost all four matches but put up a creditable show, and soon after took part in the Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka, losing to South Africa and West Indies, the latter very narrowly.
In November, Namibia visited Kenya and were beaten 3-1 by Kenya in the 4 one-day match series.
Kenya ended the year 2002, when they toured Zimbabwe in December, and in a three match ODI series went down 2-0 with one match abandoned.
In February 2003, Kenya make their major breakthrough in One-Day international scene, when participating in their third World Cup, with only one win over West Indies in 1996, they went on to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup (being first non-Test playing country to achieve this). Finishing overall 3rd, they on their way had beaten three Test Playing countries, Sri Lanka (in Nairobi), Bangladesh & Zimbabwe in South Africa.
Thus in a short span of 7 years, Kenya have beaten three former World Cup Champions in ODI's, i.e. West Indies, Sri Lanka & India (twice). Kenya also had the rare distinction of staging a World Cup match in Nairobi on 24th February, 2003 between Kenya and Sri Lanka. Kenyan players match earnings for the tournament was a staggering USD.530,000.
On their return they were honoured with a visit to the State House to meet the President of the Republic of Kenya Hon. Mwai Kibaki.
The National Team, soon after the World Cup, were invited to a Tri-Nation tournament in Sharjah along with Pakistan and Zimbabwe, failing to qualify for the final.
The Under 19 team took part in the World Cup Qualifying tournament in Namibia in October, winning all their group matches, lost to Uganda in the Semi-final, thus failing to qualify for the 2004 World Cup. Prior to Namibia, the team toured U.A.E. winning most of the matches.
In October, Sri Lanka "A" team paid a 5 One-Day matches visit to Kenya, winning all the five matches. Soon after, Kenya took part in the Hong Kong Sixes tournament for the first time, losing narrowly to England, Sri Lanka and India.
Special Commendation to Jasmer Singh for this article |
