By Oscar Pilipili

National women’s cricket team will miss the services of Captain Emily Ruto when they play Uganda in a series of Twenty-20 matches starting at Peponi School on Friday.

Team manager Dun Okinyo confirmed that Ruto has been ruled out of the build-up matches with an ankle injury which she sustained in training on Wednesday.

Okinyo said an early call was made on the captain, to ensure she plays unrestricted in next month’s ICC/Africa Women qualifiers slated for Tanzania.

“She (Ruto) won’t be fit enough to play today or even the whole series. I would like her to get fit and join the rest of the players in training as quickly as she can and so fielding her in this series will be a big risk,” Okinyo stressed.

Ruto is among the team dependable players and she was hoped to play a big role in the six matches.

This season, the all-rounder who can bat at any number, has scored over 350 runs with three half centuries.

Despite Ruto’s blow, Okinyo remained confident of Kenya’s’ chances in the six match series citing September’s 3-1 win with Ruto in poor form with the bat.

“We are comfortable we have the players and we have the cover,” he said. We’re relaxed, we’re calm. I think the team is in a really good space and ready to prove themselves.  We’re excited and really hungry for success. We see this as a massive opportunity for most of the players,” he said.

Apart from Ruto, Kenya will be without opening bowler Belinda Maska who will not be available due to family commitment.

In the absence of the two, Kenya is most likely to give chance to junior players who will be using the matches to prepare for next month’s Africa Junior Girls Championships in Uganda.

“We have young players who are looking to be part of this team in few months and so giving them a chance to play a team like Uganda is a good opportunity for them,” Okinyo said.

Mary Belle who has been out of the team for over a year will be making a comeback and could share the new ball with Mercyline Adhiambo in the absence of Maska.

 Other players who are likely to get back into the team are Beryl Oyugi and Dolyne Adhiambo.

 The two were not part of the team when it toured Uganda.  The two East Africa neighbors are scheduled to play six matches in various venues in Nairobi.

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