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The cricket extravaganza continues in the city as favourites Zimbabwe take on ICC Trophy runners-up Kenya in the inaugural match of the three-nation Meril International Cricket Tournament '99, also involving hosts and ICC champions Bangladesh, at the Bangabandhu National Stadium this afternoon.

The day-night limited over match starts at two in the afternoon. Bangladesh Television will telecast the match live, while Radio Bangladesh will provide ball-by-ball commentary of the proceedings.

Peter Manuel of Sri Lanka and VK Ramaswamy of India will officiate today's match while Javed Akhter from Pakistan will act as the third eye. Former Indian captain Gundappa Viswanath has been appointed as the match referee for the tournament.

All the three teams will face each other twice in the round robin stage before the top two teams meet in the March 27 final. The winner of the three-nation tourney will get US $ 10,000 while the runners up will receive US $ 5,000. Besides, the man of the match in the first round will be richer by US $ 500 and the amount will be doubled for the man-of-the final.

Title sponsor Meril, a brand name of Square Toiletries, are paying Taka 15 lakh while Coca-Cola, the official drink sponsor of the tournament, will pay Taka 7 lakh to Bangladesh Cricket Board.

All the three teams expressed their optimism in a press conference at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday. Zimbabwean coach David Houghton, Kenyan captain Asif Karim, Kenyan manger Harilal Shah and Bangladesh captain Aminul Islam were present in the conference.

``We have two functions in this tournament. One is to win the tournament and the other is to prepare ourselves for the World Cup,'' said Zimbabwe coach and former Test cricketer David Houghton.

``This tournament is right in the middle of our training camp for the World Cup. So it's part of our World Cup preparations. These are the two things we want to get out of this meet,'' added Houghton.

About his two minor opponents Bangladesh and Kenya, Houghton said that both teams have already got the status of playing one-day cricket and consequentially are not minnows anymore.

``We have played against each other a number of times. They have improved greatly in the past couple of years. They have the ODI status. So we treat them as we treat any other side we play against in one-day cricket,'' said Houghton, adding that members of his team was physically fit. However, he opted to wait until this morning to name his squad.

Bangladesh captain Aminul Islam said his first priority was to qualify for the final.

``Our main mission is to reach the final,'' said Aminul adding that Kenya would be their main 'rivals'.

Aminul also informed that other than Farooque Ahmed, who is suffering a groin injury, all the members of his team were in good health. Aminul could not confirm when his team would be announced for the tournament.

Kenyan skipper Asif Karim also vowed to play positive cricket.

``I must thank Bangladesh for inviting us to the tournament and assure Bangladeshi crowd a good performance from our side,'' said the Kenyan captain.

``Two of our cricketers Maurice Odumbe and Steve Tikolo have played here in the domestic cricket. I think that will help us in this tournament,'' said Asif.

Teams

Zimbabwe: Alistair Campbell (captain), Eddo Brandes, S Carlisle, Andy Flower, M Goodwin, Adam Huckle, Neil Johnson, M Mbangwa, Henry Olonga, Paul Strang, Heath Streak, D Viljoen, Guy Whittall and Andrew Whittall.

Kenya: Asif Karim (captain), Maurice Odumbe (vice-captain), Ravindu Shah, Steve Tikolo, Sandeep Gupta, Martin Suji, Tony Suji, Alpesh Vadher, Hitesh Modi, Kennedy Otieno, Thomas Odoyo, Deepak Chudasama, Joseph Angara, Muhammad Sheikh and James Kamande.