Captain Patel upbeat as team starts training for qualifiers
Unique Sports
By
Ochieng Oyugi
| May 08, 2023
Cricket Kenya (CK) has selected a provisional squad of 38 players who will start preparation for the U19 Men's World Cup Africa Division 1 Qualifier to be held in Tanzania on July 23- 29, 2023.
The national training camp will officially bowl off tomorrow at the Sikh Union Sports Club in Nairobi and will proceed until the final squad is named.
Kenya qualified for the tournament in Tanzania after winning the Africa Division 2 Qualifier with an unbeaten run in Abuja, Nigeria last year.
Vishil Patel who captained the side in Abuja believes the announced team has depth that will give head coach Josephat Irungu a variety of players to select in the final traveling squad for the national duty.
"I believe all the players called up are competent, it is now upon everyone to work hard to earn their official position in the team," the Ruaraka Sports Club bowler told Standard Sports.
The tournament in Tanzania will feature six teams, with Nigeria and Sierra Leone joining Kenya from last year's Qualifier in Abuja while Tanzania, Uganda and Namibia automatically slot in after topping the last Division 1 Qualifier held in Rwanda.
Patel says Kenya will not underrate any side in the tournament in Tanzania and has advised his team mates to cultivate the 'Abuja Spirit' which saw Kenya win matches with huge margins in Nigeria.
"We haven't played most of the teams we are to compete with in Tanzania. At least we have clashed with Nigeria and Sierra Leone who we know their playing pattern.
"In such a tournament all teams pose challenges, however, we will look forward to give our best against any opponent that we will play regardless of their regional or global rankings," said Patel.
In order to be a dominant force in Tanzania, Patel says they will need to strengthen their batting order and other key areas like bowling and fielding.
"Looking at the previous tournament, we have always pointed out these weaknesses both individually and as a group. We certainly look forward to modifying them before we head to the tournament," he said.
CK has roped in three players each from Mombasa and Nakuru counties in the provisional squad while the remaining 32 are from within Nairobi. The 38 players were picked from the trials held over the Labour Day weekend.
The players will step their training under Irungu, who will continue being in charge of the team after his success in Abuja with the outfit.
Other officials to oversee the training are the CK Development Director Thomas Odoyo and the CK Chairperson of the selection committee Alfred Njuguna.
There are plans for the team to acclimatise in Mombasa two weeks.