Kenyans ready to bowl out Nepal in eight-day action

Kenya's Nehemiah Odhiambo bowl against Hong Kong during the 4th Round of the International Cricket Council World Cricket League Championship at Nairobi Gymkana on Sunday, Nov 20, 2016. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

International cricket is finally back on Kenyan shores after a three-year hiatus.

The last time the country hosted an international engagement was in 2019 against visiting Hong Kong side which won by five wickets at Nairobi Gymkhana.

The well-refurbished venue is again ready to host fast-rising Nepal, who jetted into the country on Tuesday.

They will play in five Twenty20 (T20) International from Thursday to next Tuesday.

The two old foes will then battle in three One Day Internationals (ODI) from September 2 to 5 at the same venue.

Former Kenya international David Obuya is upbeat after making 20 new young call-ups to blend with the senior and experienced players in the national team ahead of the eight-day action.

"I'm fully focused on the T20. This will be a full international outing recognised by the world cricket governing body, the ICC," the former right-handed wicket-keeper told Standard Sports.

"The T20 will be a first-class game since Nepal have come with their top-ranked players and I have planned to field only the seniors and experienced charges in this challenge.

"If we beat Nepal then we will get more points and this will improve Kenya's ICC ranking since our opponents are highly-placed at position 13 in the T20 and 19 in the ODI globally," Obuya said.

As for the three-day ODI, Obuya will use the competition to introduce his new call-ups to the national team and international cricket.

"The boys are the future of the game. They are the feeders to the national team, so this is basically meant to increase depth in the squad.

"I will blend about six to seven boys with the seniors and the experienced players on a day-to-day basis to give the new call-ups exposure," the coach said.

Ahead of the crunch tie with Nepal, Obuya is working tirelessly to tighten his late batting order as his charges have not been getting enough partnerships from number seven.

"This is the reason I have brought in Nehemiah Odhiambo (Swamibapa SC), Nelson Odhiambo (Kanbis SC) and Lucas Oluoch (Nairobi Gymkhana) to beef up the team because of their experience.

"I have planned to use the trio as all-rounders so they can strengthen our batting towards the end," Obuya said.

Obuya reiterated that the upcoming challenge against Nepal will be basically a continuous build-up of their impressive run in the ICC 50 overs World Cup Qualifiers in Jersey, United Kingdom where Kenya won four out of five matches they played that propelled the country to the next stage of the qualifications.

Apart from Jersey, the country recently took part in T20 build-up matches and the ICC World Cup Qualifiers 50 overs Challenge B contests in Uganda and the Africa T20 World Cup Qualifiers in Rwanda.

After the showdown with Nepal at the Gymkhana, Kenya will be out to tick its full bucket list that has a full in-tray comprising a T20 local series and an Afro T20 tournament in South Africa next month.

The national U-19 team is also set for an ICC World Cup qualifier in Nigeria from August 28 to September 14.

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