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Rediff.com  » News » Canada and Kenya can both bank on experience

Canada and Kenya can both bank on experience

March 14, 2007 00:35 IST
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Rank outsiders Kenya and Canada will both be relying on some solid World Cup experience when they clash in Group C's opening match on Wednesday.

Kenya captain Steve Tikolo is 35 and played in the last three World Cups, including their amazing run to the semi-finals in 2003, while Canada's Anderson Cummins returns 15 years on after playing for the West Indies in the 1992 tournament.

Cummins is now 40 but after being coaxed into playing cricket again in Canada he is ready to cause a stir with bat and ball.

"I still feel I can contribute to this team and add value. If I wasn't passionate I wouldn't be here," he told Reuters.

Canada, who lost to Pakistan and Ireland in the warm-ups, have a full squad to chose from while Kenya also have no injury worries after beating the Netherlands and losing to West Indies in last week's practice games.

Victory for either side on Wednesday could be crucial for their outside chances of reaching the Super Eights if they could then pull off a major shock by beating England or New Zealand in the other group matches.

Kenya have form for causing surprises, however, defeating West Indies in 1996 and beating Sri Lanka by 53 runs in 2003.

They also overcame Canada by four wickets on their way to the semi-finals last time, although their progression was partly due to New Zealand refusing to play in Nairobi because of safety concerns.

Kenya lost by 91 runs to eventual runners-up, India, in the last four in 2003.

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Source: REUTERS
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