Their impressive victory over the West Indies during the World Cup in India a year ago might have burdened them with expectation, but their one-day strength is beyond doubt, and a maiden ICC triumph would give special pleasure to Sandeep Patil, their coac h.

Patil, abruptly sacked as India's manager after their tour of England last summer, has returned to prominence as national coach in Kenya, where he has played for 10 years.

The arrival of 22 cricket nations in Malaysia over the past week seemed to trigger a series of electric storms, and the laser show at Saturday's drenched opening ceremony at Mines Resort City hardly matched the spectacle of nature's own forked lightning.

Malaysia's cricket pitches are laid on clay with a British artificial surface sold to Malaysia by Derek Underwood, that most destructive of left-arm spinners; such news must worry a few batsmen, but the rain is the biggest anxiety.

The grounds would absorb water to an extent, but monsoon-like floods closed 10 major roads in the city on Saturday night.

Patil regards Kenya as the sharpest fielding side in the world, better than South Africa even, and in Steve Tikolo they possess probably the best batsman outside Test cricket.

Bob Simpson has been less philosophical than Patil about his break with Australia, but he has returned to international level as Bermuda's coaching consultant, and the island's complete tie-in with West Indies domestic competition is only three years away , by his reckoning.

Kenya start today against Israel, who are guided by Steve Herzberg, of Somerset, while Bangladesh have hired Gordon Greenidge, the former West Indies opener, as coach.

ICC GROUPS.-A: Kenya, United States, Ireland, Gibraltar, Singapore, Israel.

B: Bangladesh, United Arab Emirates (holders), Denmark, West Africa, Argentina, Malaysia.

C: Holland, Canada, Namibia, Fiji, East & Central Africa.

D: Bermuda, Scotland, Hong Kong, Papua New Guinea, Italy.

(Top three to World Cup; top four eligible, plus Malaysia, to Commonwealth Games)

Today: Kenya v Israel, Ireland v Gibraltar, US v Singapore; Bangladesh v Argentina, Denmark v Malaysia, UAE v W Africa; Holland v E & C Africa; Bermuda v Italy.