Kenya-India pre-World Cup showdown called off

Cricket Kenya chairlady Jackie Jan Mohammed (left) with Kenya Under-19 team coach Jimmy Kamande (second left), Captain Sachin Bhudia (third left), Maxwell Ager, Amar Gandhi (second right) and Rene Were (right) to after they were given Caps and Travelling Bags on December 22, 2017 at Sikh Union grounds. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |

What you need to know:

  • The last time the Kenya Under-19 side competed in the age group event was in 2002 in Australia.

The eagerly awaited ICC Under-19 World Cup warm-up match between Kenya and India at the Hagley Park Old, Christchurch, New Zealand, was called off on Thursday before a single ball was bowled.

Kenya’s Under-19 team coach Jimmy Kamande told Nation Sport on phone from Christchurch that the boys, who were eagerly awaiting to face their Indian counterparts, were very disappointed when the match was washed out. It was the last warm-up match before the World Cup.

Kamande said that they will train indoors today if weather will not be conducive for outdoor training. They face South Africa in their opening match on Sunday.

“We are ready for South Africa. We have analysed their players and we believe we will give them a run for their money,” Kamande said.

The last time the Kenya Under-19 side competed in the age group event was in 2002 in Australia.

Namibia, who have been eliminating Kenya in the subsequent qualifiers, were not part of the teams that took part in the continental qualifier in Nairobi, in July, after they secured an automatic qualification to this year’s World Cup by virtue of being the highest ranked associate team in the 2016 ICC World Cup.