Kenyan team prepares for upcoming MCC tour
Tony Munro - 19 January 1999

Kenya will field all of its overseas contingent for its vital World Cup preparation matches against the touring MCC next month. Vice-captain Maurice Odumbe and star batsman Steve Tikolo will return home from club duties in Bangladesh while wicket-keeper/batsman Kennedy Otieno, opening bowler Martin Suji and Thomas Odoyo join the team from Johannesburg. These players are part of a 21-man squad training under national coach, Alvin Kallicharran.

The MCC team, featuring several players with Test experience, arrives in Kenya on February 17 for a series of matches which are an integral part of Kenya's World Cup build-up. It will be one of the key tests of the national team's new brand of professionalism.

"We have a five year sponsorship with Kenya Breweries and this allows our players to go professional. We can then concentrate on getting the percentages right with things like running between wickets and fielding," KCA official, Robbie Armstrong said.

The MCC will play matches against Kenya A, Kenya under 19s, and a Coastal Selection, as well as four one day "internationals" against the national team. Kenya will then contest a triangular tournament against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe in Dhaka starting on March 17.