By Oscar Pilipili

Newly appointed Cricket Kenya (CK) Head of Elite Development Robin Brown is scheduled to commission astro turf wickets in Nairobi and Nakuru this week.

The project, which cost CK Sh2.5 million, will see the number of cricket playing facilities increase from 34 at the end of 2011 to 42.

CK Administration Manager in a statement said that the facilities will be opened this week. Facilities in Nairobi- Highway Secondary will be commissioned tomorrow at 4pm, Baba Dogo and Lenana School will be opened on July 4 at 2pm and 4pm respectively.

Those in Nakuru situated at Menengai Primary and Nakuru Day Secondary will be opened on July 7 at 9am.

“The exercise will see Kenya national team players conduct coaching sessions in various   schools in these areas,” said Dafala.  

Nairobi Province Cricket Association Secretary and CK Board member, John Moyi, together with development officers will also attend the launch.

Play cricket

According to CK, the unveiling of these facilities now provides a welcome  opportunity and platform to play cricket for over 15,000 young players from Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru, Nanyuki, Dol Dol and Kisumu.

“The facilities will provide a level playing surface that will assist in the development of cricket techniques for the youngsters and encourage participation,” said CK. 

“These facilities have been constructed to provide unrestricted access not only to the institutions where they have been built on, but also to the neighbouring schools and the community at large,” CK emphasised. 

More facilities

Future plans which are under way include the creation of more such facilities at Mombasa’s Simba Union Club, Kisumu Day Secondary School and Dol Dol area in Laikipia North district that has seen the involvement of the Maasai in the game.

Meanwhile, five Indian domestic players facing allegations of corruption have been banned by the BCCI’s disciplinary committee, reports Cricinfo.

The BCCI announced the penalties after studying a report on the allegations, which had arisen in May after an India TV sting and alluded to the five being involved in match-fixing and negotiating for extra — and illegal — pay.

The harshest punishment was dealt to Madhya Pradesh fast bowler TP Sudhindra, who was handed a life ban after being found guilty of “receiving a consideration to spot-fix” in a domestic game. Sudhindra was the leading wicket-taker in the 2011-12 Ranji Trophy.

Uttar Pradesh fast bowler Shalabh Srivastava will be out of the game for five years after the committee deemed him guilty of agreeing to fix a match.