Enock Muchinjo
15 May 2008
ZIMBABWE Cricket is battling to secure game-time after India indefinitely postponed its June tour to Zimbabwe because of a tight schedule.
The India board in April announced putting off its ODI series in Zimbabwe to fulfill domestic and international commitments.
The subcontinent country is currently staging the new Indian Premier League (IPL), after which it will have a packed schedule until early next year, leaving the possibility of the tour going ahead this year balancing on Indian goodwill.
ZC wanted a replacement series in June to fill the void, preferring a home series. But IndependentSport has heard that the next confirmed assignment, away to Kenya, will only be held at the end of the year, leaving the young Zimbabwean side without international matches in seven months.
Cricket Kenya spokesman Tom Tikolo this week revealed the proposed series to IndependentSport.
"The tour is to take place in September/October 2008 and we hope that we can have another international team to have (a) tri-series," Tikolo said.
"We hope we can get at least three ODIs and two four-day matches."
Tikolo added that the Zimbabwe series is part of Kenya's quest for increased international participation with ICC's Full Member countries..
"We are continually talking to other countries to settle on matches for the team. At the moment we still hope that the ICC will insist on the teams to play us.
"We would really wish that our participation in engagements with Zimbabwe would become a permanent fixture for us. Reciprocal visits should be encourages at all levels."
The Cricket Kenya chief executive and national selector said he hoped the Zimbabwe team's form, which has hit rock-bottom, will improve.
"We at Cricket Kenya sympathise with our Zimbabwean brethren in that a strong Zimbabwe would build a strong Kenya. We would like to see a lot more interactions between the two of us in order to support our causes at the ICC."
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