OWN CORRESPONDENT, Nairobi | Friday 6.00pm.
SOUTH Africa and Zimbabwe have included several youngsters in their teams to face India and hosts Kenya in a four-nation one-day cricket tournament starting in Nairobi on Saturday.
Zimbabwe, which meets Kenya in the opening match, has called up three members of its development programme, including 20-year-old student David Mutendera, voted the country’s most promising player in 1997.
Veterans Adam Huckle and Heath Streak did not travel to Nairobi for different reasons, giving a chance to the youngsters to shine in the competition.
South Africa, beaten semi-finalists at the Cricket World Cup in England in June, will also be without several of their top performers, including Alan Donald, Daryll Cullinan and Gary Kristen.
New-comer Boeta Dippenaar and seamer Victor Mpitsang are expected to star in the South African team, which is stepping up its integration compaign to include players of colour in its side.
Unlike Zimbabwe and India, South Africa are taking part in their first international competition since being eliminated in the World Cup where they were listed as favourites.
They now have a chance to avenge their loss to Zimbabwe in England during the group qualifiers.
Travel-weary India have already two wins under their belt following victories in the Coca Cola Cup tournament in Singapore and the DMC series in Canada and play their last tournament under coach Anshuman Gaekwad, who is set to be replaced by former star Kapil Dev.
Zimbabwe’s captain Alistair Campbell believes his team has put aside its indifferent performance in Singapore and stands a big chance against both India and South Africa for the title.
Kenya are the underdogs, but under new coach Sandip Patil from India, the players’ confidence is high.
They have yet to repeat their earlier success against India and Zimbabwe before the country was granted a one-day international status in 1997. –AFP