Kenyan president overrules minister on Tri-Series

Kenya's President Daniel arap Moi on Friday overruled his minister for sport over the organisation of next month's Tri-nation series between Pakistan, Australia and Kenya.

Moi told the Kenya Cricket Association (KCA) to go ahead and organise the tournament, which was moved from Pakistan to Nairobi because of security concerns in south Asia.

Sports minister Francis Nyenze had wanted it organised through the National Sports Council and a caretaker committee he set up in May.

But a brief statement from the presidential press service said: "KCA should liase with its Australian and Pakistan counterparts in order to make the tournament a success."

The International Cricket Council (ICC) stepped into the row on Thursday, backing the KCA.

KCA had accused Nyenze of trying to block the tournament, saying the government did not recognise their authority.

"The ICC would urge the Kenyan government and the KCA to put any issues behind them and work together for the benefit of Kenyan cricket and for the ... World Cup in 2003," said the ICC statement.

"It is important that this dispute is resolved so as to remove uncertainty concerning Kenya's right to host World Cup matches," ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed, said.

Kenya will host New Zealand and Sri Lanka during the 2003 World Cup, which will mainly be staged in South Africa.

DELIGHTED CHAIRMAN

KCA greeted the news with jubilation and chairman Jimmy Rayani, who is also a member of the board of the ICC, told a news conference moments later that he was delighted.

"The event will be viewed by some two billion people. It will showcase Kenya's cricket and tourism to the world and Pakistan has accepted to surrender gate collection and hundreds of bats to KCA," he said.

Rayani regretted the damage the controversy had done to Kenya's quest for full Test status.

"Damage is already done to our application because of a mistake not of KCA's (doing)," he said.

KCA has been entangled in protracted wrangling with some of its affiliates, which culminated in Nyenze dissolving the association, alleging financial mismanagement, and appointing a caretaker committee to run the affairs for three months ahead of fresh elections.

The Kenyan high court later overturned his decision.

Rayani said on Friday that should current political problems prevent Zimbabwe from hosting World Cup matches next year, Kenya is likely to be the venue for more than the planned two matches.

Mail Cricket Editor