KENYA are to be reported to the ICC for abuse of umpires in their final warm-up match before this weekend's world twenty20 qualifying tournament in Northern Ireland.
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The Africans, due to fly out to Belfast tomorrow, suddenly abandoned their short tour of England, leaving a Minor Counties XI without a match today and more than £3,000 out of pocket. That was on top of allegedly foul on-field behaviour.
On Tuesday evening Minor Counties, captain by Tom Sharp, one of two Cornwall players, beat the Kenyans with embarrassing ease in a 20-overs game at Radlett. The teams were due to play a longer game at the Hertfordshire ground the following day, but the Africans announced they would not be returning for what home officials claimed were "spurious" reasons.
Gordon Child, the Minor Counties team manager, said the Kenyan group were surly and uncommunicative. "One would have thought they would want to play as much cricket as possible with the tournament in mind and not to renege on a fixture. Our players came from all over the country."
He added: "The worst aspect of the lot was the abuse of the umpires, which was absolutely shocking. It was really appalling; I've never seen anything like it." He added that on receipt of the umpires' report the matter would be taken up with the England and Wales Cricket Board and ICC.
The top three countries from the qualifying event at Stormont will progress to the main ICC world championship at Trent Bridge, the Oval and Rose bowl in June next year. Kenya play Holland on Saturday and Canada on Sunday, with the play-offs on Monday and Tuesday. In the other group are Ireland, Scotland and Bermuda.
Belfast qualifying tournament schedule
All matches at Stormont
Saturday Aug 2, 9.30: Kenya v Holland. 1: Ireland v Scotland. 4.30: Holland v Canada.
Sunday Aug 3, 9.30: Scotland v Bermuda. 1: Kenya v Canada. 4.30: Ireland v Bermuda.
Monday Aug 4, 9.30, semi-finals: Winner Group A v Runner-up Group B . 1: Winner Group B v Runner-up Group A. 4.30: Third and fourth-place play-off
Tuesday Aug 5, 9.30, fifth and sixth-place play-off. 1: Final.
CHARLIE SAYS: As a Radlett cricketer myself, this was a lamentable episode that did Kenya cricket no good at all. Lovely evening, excellent ground, strong opposition -- the Kenyans were rubbish, and I hope they get sanctioned by the ICC if the umpire abuse allegations are correct.
