/ 30 March 1999

KENYANS KEEP CRICKET TEAM

KENYAN cricket authorities have full confidence in the country’s team for the World Cup despite its dismal showing in the tri-nation tournament in Bangladesh, the selection committee chairman Asif Padamshi said on Monday. Kenya suffered a crushing 202-run defeat to Zimbabwe in the tri-nation competition in Dhaka on Saturday. It was Kenya’s eighth consecutive loss to Zimbabwe in one-day international cricket since the 1996 World Cup. Padamshi said Kenya would retain the same team to face Zimbabwe in their opening Cricket World Cup match at Taunton, England on May 20. The only injury worry in the squad is top batsman Steve Tikolo who suffered a hairline fracture on his finger while fielding against Zimbabwe on Saturday. He is expected to be fit for the World Cup.