KENYANS OPTIMISTIC: National cricket team keen to beat Nepal

Batsman Hong Kong's Shah Kinchit (right) walks out of the pitch after he was bowled out by Nicholas Ndandason during the 4th Round of International Cricket Council World Cricket League Championship at Nairobi Gymkana on Sunday, Nov 20, 2016. [PHOTO: JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD]

The men’s national cricket team remains hopeful of reviving their hopes of making it to the 2019 World Cup qualifiers set for March 2018 in Bangladesh.

They play the fifth round of the World Cricket League Championship (WCLC) matches away to Nepal on March 11-13

Currently fifth on the WCLC standings with eight points, the Kenyan men will be eying a whitewash when they take on their hosts at the Tribhuvan University Oval, Kirtipur.

A double win will renew Kenya’s hopes of making the cut to the last World Cup qualifier.

If Kenya qualifies for Bangladesh then they will battle it out with nine other countries for the remaining World Cup two slots to England and Wales in 2019.

National team Coach Thomas Odoyo said they have to make the best out of the Nepal trip. “We all know what victory in Nepal means and we have been working very hard to ensure we achieve our purpose.

“So far so good because there is great improvement in our execution in training and I’m also encouraging the boys to avoid too much pressure,” he said.

He said the team is set to play about five test matches in India before crossing over to Nepal.

“We are going for a tough battle which requires that we be at our best. Matches in India are a better way of testing our strengths, abilities as well as our readiness.”

Skipper Rakep Patel said that despite waiting for the final squad to be named next week all players were working hard to ensure that whoever is selected is good enough to represent the country.

“We are all working hard because we desire to win and increase our chances of playing in next year’s qualifiers.

“We are still a provisional team, but everyone is committed to this course and I believe that all who will make the final squad will make Kenya proud,” Rakep told Feverpitch.

He added that the inclusion of legendary Maurice Odumbe to the technical bench has added value to the team.

“We are now under the tutelage of the country’s best cricketers. We learn a lot from coach Odoyo and we have become even better with the addition of Odumbe. I believe that with the two of them in charge our cricket is surely going to change for the better.”

Kenya are one place above Nepal with a two point advantage after an equal round of matches. Kenya have won four matches one more than Nepal. They have both beaten Namibia and lost to Papua New Guinea.

After Nepal, Kenya will face Netherlands in Nairobi and Scotland in a yet to be announced neutral ground.