Cricket in Kenya
Encyclopedia
Cricket
is the second most popular sport in Kenya. Kenya
has competed in the Cricket World Cup
since 1996
. They upset some of the World's best teams and reached semi-finals of the 2003 tournament
. They also won the inaugural World Cricket League Division 1 hosted in Nairobi and participated in the World T20. Their most successful player is Steve Tikolo
.
Cricket has always been played only at club level in cities like Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru and central province. But there never was a competition where these cities played each other until the Zonal League was started.
gradually came under British influence in the latter part of the 19th century and in the first half of the 20th century. Cricket was probably introduced to the country in the 1880s.
in December 1899.
From 1910, a series of games called Officials v Settlers was established and ran until 1964.
In 1914, a Kenyan team crossed the border into Uganda
and defeated their hosts by 5 wickets at Entebbe
.
is the official ICC
recognised organisation chosen to represent Kenya in terms of cricket issues. Kenya broke away from the East and Central Africa Cricket Conference
in 1981 and joined the ICC in their own right as an Associate member. Cricket Kenya are also Associate members of the African Cricket Association
.
competition created by Cricket Kenya
featuring a Twenty20
tournament, a one day cricket tournament and finally a three day cricket tournament. For the inaugural league four teams will be competing consisting of the 60 best players according to Cricket Kenya
from Kenya.
The first edition of the competition involved four franchises, namely The Northern Nomads, The Eastern Aces, The Southern Stars, and The Western Chiefs. The teams were captained by National team players, Steve Tikolo
, Thomas Odoyo, Kennedy Obuya, and Peter Ongondo in 2008. The inaugural T20 Competition, played in February 2008, was won by the Eastern Aces, while the first 50 over competition was won by the Northern Nomads, However the three day format of the competition was postponed due to unfavourable weather and was played in June 2008. Further difficulties in availability of players, many of whom were in school, meant that the first season of the three-dayers had to be compressed to two days per match..
The league was sponsored by South African Sahara Computers, African Cricket Association
and others in 2008..
Following a lack of interest from contracted players and insufficient funding, the league was not held in 2009 and 2010, and has been replaced in 2011 by two new competitions; the East African Cup (50 overs a side) and the East Africa Premier League (Twenty20
) (see below)
, and in response to a huge gap in standards between the national side and the country's existing leagues, Cricket Kenya launched two new franchise based competitions . Season 2011/12 saw the launch of the 50 over a side East African Cup, and the Twenty20
East Africa Premier League.
In addition to teams from Kenya, two teams from neighbouring Uganda were also awarded franchises, to ensure further development of playing standards, and to create more rivalry with Kenyan based sides.
Four teams from Kenya will participate
and two teams from Uganda
Teams are composed of international players, senior club players and age group cricketers aiming to make the national squads of both countries. The top two teams in each competition compete in live televised finals.
Cricket Kenya has agreed a broadcast deal with Supersport who will televise a number of live matches throughout Africa as well as a regular highlights and magazine programme.
There are several cricket venues in Nairobi accredited with full ODI status.
The Ruaraka Sports Club Ground
played host to the 1994 ICC Trophy
final. Aga Khan Sports Club Ground
and Nairobi Club Ground
have hosted One Day Internationals and the Nairobi Gymkhana Club
hosted two matches during the 2003 Cricket World Cup
.
The Mombasa Sports Club
ground is the only fully accredited ODI Cricket ground in Kenya outside of Nairobi. The Jaffery Sports Club Mombasa is the only cricket ground in Kenya where cricket can be played under lights. Rift Valley Sports Club in Nakuru has been given a major uplift for the under-19 world cup. Jomo Kenyatta Sports Grounds in Kisumu has got a turf wicket
The Kenya national cricket team have One Day International status until 2013.
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
is the second most popular sport in Kenya. Kenya
Kenyan cricket team
The Kenya national cricket team is the team that represents the country of Kenya in international cricket matches. They are considered one of the strongest of the associate member nations of the International Cricket Council, especially since reaching the semi-final of the 2003 Cricket World Cup...
has competed in the Cricket World Cup
Cricket World Cup
The ICC Cricket World Cup is the premier international championship of men's One Day International cricket. The event is organised by the sport's governing body, the International Cricket Council , with preliminary qualification rounds leading up to a finals tournament which is held every four years...
since 1996
1996 Cricket World Cup
The 1996 Cricket World Cup, also called the Wills World Cup after its official sponsors, was the sixth edition of the tournament organized by the International Cricket Council . It was the second World Cup to be hosted by Pakistan and India, and for the first time by Sri Lanka...
. They upset some of the World's best teams and reached semi-finals of the 2003 tournament
2003 Cricket World Cup
-Group stage tables and results:The top three teams from each pool qualify for the next stage, carrying forward the points already scored against fellow qualifiers, plus a quarter of the points scored against the teams that failed to qualify.-Pool A:...
. They also won the inaugural World Cricket League Division 1 hosted in Nairobi and participated in the World T20. Their most successful player is Steve Tikolo
Steve Tikolo
- Career :He is a right-handed middle order batsman and part time right-arm medium pace bowler. He bowls quite effective offspin in the shorter form of the game. Tikolo has previously represented Border in South African domestic cricket and has also spent time playing in England and Bangladesh...
.
Cricket has always been played only at club level in cities like Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru and central province. But there never was a competition where these cities played each other until the Zonal League was started.
Historical background
Following initial colonisation by the Portuguese, KenyaKenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
gradually came under British influence in the latter part of the 19th century and in the first half of the 20th century. Cricket was probably introduced to the country in the 1880s.
Early developments
The first match of note was "East African Protectorate v Rest of the World" at MombasaMombasa
Mombasa is the second-largest city in Kenya. Lying next to the Indian Ocean, it has a major port and an international airport. The city also serves as the centre of the coastal tourism industry....
in December 1899.
From 1910, a series of games called Officials v Settlers was established and ran until 1964.
In 1914, a Kenyan team crossed the border into Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
and defeated their hosts by 5 wickets at Entebbe
Entebbe
Entebbe is a major town in Central Uganda. Located on a Lake Victoria peninsula, the town was at one time, the seat of government for the Protectorate of Uganda, prior to Independence in 1962...
.
Governing body
Cricket KenyaCricket Kenya
Cricket Kenya is the official ICC recognised organisation chosen to represent Kenya in terms of cricket issues. They are in charge of overseeing the Kenyan Cricket Team. The current coach is Michael Hesson. Recently Cricket Kenya organized two six team regional tournaments in the T20 and 50 Over...
is the official ICC
International Cricket Council
The International Cricket Council is the international governing body of cricket. It was founded as the Imperial Cricket Conference in 1909 by representatives from England, Australia and South Africa, renamed the International Cricket Conference in 1965, and took up its current name in 1989.The...
recognised organisation chosen to represent Kenya in terms of cricket issues. Kenya broke away from the East and Central Africa Cricket Conference
East and Central Africa Cricket Conference
The East and Central Africa Cricket Conference was a regional body which organised cricket teams from Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.It ceased to exist in 1997 with the formation of the African Cricket Association, which now oversees all cricket administration across the African continent.The...
in 1981 and joined the ICC in their own right as an Associate member. Cricket Kenya are also Associate members of the African Cricket Association
African Cricket Association
The African Cricket Association is an international body which oversees cricket in African countries. The ACA was founded in 1997, and has 20 member countries...
.
Domestic competitions
The National cricket competition in Kenya is also known as Zonal League. It is a four team cricketCricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
competition created by Cricket Kenya
Cricket Kenya
Cricket Kenya is the official ICC recognised organisation chosen to represent Kenya in terms of cricket issues. They are in charge of overseeing the Kenyan Cricket Team. The current coach is Michael Hesson. Recently Cricket Kenya organized two six team regional tournaments in the T20 and 50 Over...
featuring a Twenty20
Twenty20
Twenty20 is a form of cricket, originally introduced in England for professional inter-county competition by the England and Wales Cricket Board , in 2003. A Twenty20 game involves two teams, each has a single innings, batting for a maximum of 20 overs. Twenty20 cricket is also known as T20 cricket...
tournament, a one day cricket tournament and finally a three day cricket tournament. For the inaugural league four teams will be competing consisting of the 60 best players according to Cricket Kenya
Cricket Kenya
Cricket Kenya is the official ICC recognised organisation chosen to represent Kenya in terms of cricket issues. They are in charge of overseeing the Kenyan Cricket Team. The current coach is Michael Hesson. Recently Cricket Kenya organized two six team regional tournaments in the T20 and 50 Over...
from Kenya.
The first edition of the competition involved four franchises, namely The Northern Nomads, The Eastern Aces, The Southern Stars, and The Western Chiefs. The teams were captained by National team players, Steve Tikolo
Steve Tikolo
- Career :He is a right-handed middle order batsman and part time right-arm medium pace bowler. He bowls quite effective offspin in the shorter form of the game. Tikolo has previously represented Border in South African domestic cricket and has also spent time playing in England and Bangladesh...
, Thomas Odoyo, Kennedy Obuya, and Peter Ongondo in 2008. The inaugural T20 Competition, played in February 2008, was won by the Eastern Aces, while the first 50 over competition was won by the Northern Nomads, However the three day format of the competition was postponed due to unfavourable weather and was played in June 2008. Further difficulties in availability of players, many of whom were in school, meant that the first season of the three-dayers had to be compressed to two days per match..
The league was sponsored by South African Sahara Computers, African Cricket Association
African Cricket Association
The African Cricket Association is an international body which oversees cricket in African countries. The ACA was founded in 1997, and has 20 member countries...
and others in 2008..
Following a lack of interest from contracted players and insufficient funding, the league was not held in 2009 and 2010, and has been replaced in 2011 by two new competitions; the East African Cup (50 overs a side) and the East Africa Premier League (Twenty20
Twenty20
Twenty20 is a form of cricket, originally introduced in England for professional inter-county competition by the England and Wales Cricket Board , in 2003. A Twenty20 game involves two teams, each has a single innings, batting for a maximum of 20 overs. Twenty20 cricket is also known as T20 cricket...
) (see below)
Former Elite League Teams
- The Eastern Aces captained by Steve TikoloSteve Tikolo- Career :He is a right-handed middle order batsman and part time right-arm medium pace bowler. He bowls quite effective offspin in the shorter form of the game. Tikolo has previously represented Border in South African domestic cricket and has also spent time playing in England and Bangladesh...
- The Northern Nomads captained by Thomas Odoyo
- The Western Chiefs captained by Peter Ongondo
- The Southern Stars captained by Kennedy Otieno
East African Cup and East Africa Premier League
In 2011, as part of a radical shakeup of cricket in the country following poor performances by the national team at the 2011 Cricket World Cup2011 Cricket World Cup
The 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup was the tenth Cricket World Cup. It was played in India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. It was Bangladesh's first time co-hosting a World Cup...
, and in response to a huge gap in standards between the national side and the country's existing leagues, Cricket Kenya launched two new franchise based competitions . Season 2011/12 saw the launch of the 50 over a side East African Cup, and the Twenty20
Twenty20
Twenty20 is a form of cricket, originally introduced in England for professional inter-county competition by the England and Wales Cricket Board , in 2003. A Twenty20 game involves two teams, each has a single innings, batting for a maximum of 20 overs. Twenty20 cricket is also known as T20 cricket...
East Africa Premier League.
In addition to teams from Kenya, two teams from neighbouring Uganda were also awarded franchises, to ensure further development of playing standards, and to create more rivalry with Kenyan based sides.
Four teams from Kenya will participate
- Nairobi Buffaloes
- Kongonis (based in Nairobi)
- Rift Valley Rhinos from Nakuru
- Coast Pekee in Mombasa
and two teams from Uganda
- Rwenzori Warriors
- Nile Knights
Teams are composed of international players, senior club players and age group cricketers aiming to make the national squads of both countries. The top two teams in each competition compete in live televised finals.
Cricket Kenya has agreed a broadcast deal with Supersport who will televise a number of live matches throughout Africa as well as a regular highlights and magazine programme.
Cricket grounds
There are several cricket venues in Nairobi accredited with full ODI status.
The Ruaraka Sports Club Ground
Ruaraka Sports Club Ground
The Ruaraka Sports Club Ground is a one of several cricket venues in Nairobi accredited with full ODI status. This ground played host to the 1994 ICC Trophy final and was one of several grounds used during the 2007 World Cricket League Division one matches played in Kenya.-References:*Cricinfo...
played host to the 1994 ICC Trophy
ICC Trophy
The ICC World Cup Qualifier is an international one-day cricket tournament run under the auspices of the International Cricket Council. Any Associate or Affiliate member of the ICC may attempt to qualify for the ICC Trophy by means of a system of regional qualifying events. The test-playing Full...
final. Aga Khan Sports Club Ground
Aga Khan Sports Club Ground
The Aga Khan Sports Club Ground is a cricket ground in Nairobi, Kenya. The pitch is considered to be one of the fastest in Kenya, and the venue hosted four One Day Internationals between 1996 and 1997...
and Nairobi Club Ground
Nairobi Club Ground
The Nairobi Club Ground is a multi-use sports venue in Upper Hill, Nairobi, Kenya. It is the oldest cricket ground in Kenya, and was the first to get a turf wicket, which was laid by Don Pringle, who played for East Africa in the 1975 Cricket World Cup....
have hosted One Day Internationals and the Nairobi Gymkhana Club
Nairobi Gymkhana Club
Nairobi Gymkhana Club is a cricket ground and team in Nairobi, Kenya. It hosted two matches during the 2003 Cricket World Cup. The ground has a capacity of 7,000 people. It is located north of the central business district, but not far from it....
hosted two matches during the 2003 Cricket World Cup
2003 Cricket World Cup
-Group stage tables and results:The top three teams from each pool qualify for the next stage, carrying forward the points already scored against fellow qualifiers, plus a quarter of the points scored against the teams that failed to qualify.-Pool A:...
.
The Mombasa Sports Club
Mombasa Sports Club
Mombasa Sports Club is multi-sport club based in Mombasa, Kenya. It also owns sporting facilities. The club was established in 1896, and it is among the oldest sporting clubs in Kenya.- Cricket :...
ground is the only fully accredited ODI Cricket ground in Kenya outside of Nairobi. The Jaffery Sports Club Mombasa is the only cricket ground in Kenya where cricket can be played under lights. Rift Valley Sports Club in Nakuru has been given a major uplift for the under-19 world cup. Jomo Kenyatta Sports Grounds in Kisumu has got a turf wicket
National team
The East Africa cricket team represented Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Their first game was against a South African Non-European team in 1958. Kenya was represented by the East Africa team in the 1975 World Cup and the 1979 ICC Trophies.The Kenya national cricket team have One Day International status until 2013.