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Kenya want to undertake Pakistan tour

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Cricket Kenya has approached Pakistan to explore the possibility of touring the country next February to warm-up for the ICC World Cup Qualifiers scheduled for April, 2009.

Tom Tikolo, Cricket Kenya’s chief executive, said that he has discussed a proposal with Pakistan Academy manager Haroon Rasheed to play around six one-dayers in Pakistan to get ready for the 12-nation qualifying tournament from where the top four will make the cut for the 2011 World Cup to be co-hosted by Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

“We are desperate to play against some strong teams and believe that playing a series of one-dayers in Pakistan can really help our players get ready for the World Cup qualifiers,”
said Tikolo.

Kenya are struggling at the international arena, five years after reaching the World Cup semifinals in South Africa. Tikolo blames lack of exposure for his team’s slump.

“Playing around six games in Pakistan will help us to find our rhythm,”
said Tikolo.
“The World Cup qualifiers is our most important assignment and we will take all possible steps to ensure that our team competes in the event well-prepared,”
he added.

Haroon Rasheed said that he has discussed the idea with Tikolo and will now forward it to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on his return to Pakistan. The Pakistan Academy’s tour of Africa concluded on Sunday with their third one-dayer against Kenya here at the Nairobi Gymkhana.

The tourists are scheduled to fly out of Nairobi for Karachi on Monday night after completing what was a highly successful tour of Zimbabwe and Kenya.

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