They visit schools to talk about AIDS prevention, early marriage, gender equality, environmental protection and battling alcoholism and drug addiction.

School children turn up to watch the game, while entertainment on the sidelines and during breaks in the game include simple dramas and songs focusing on HIV awareness.Tents alongside the grounds also offer HIV tests encouraging people to get tested to know their status.

Another key issue that the cricketers can flag is the impact rampant poaching is having on wildlife.

“We’ve come to watch the game but we learn about the problems of poaching too,” said Murunga Tialolo, a schoolboy at the match, proudly showing the posters displayed near the pavilion of army canvas tents.

Cricket, imported into Kenya during British colonial rule, is played in scattered schools and in the east African country’s largest cities.

The Maasai team uses cricket metaphors to deliver messages within its highly traditional and patriarchal community, in which early marriage and female genital mutilation are firmly rooted customs.

For captain Ngais, keeping the traditional dress is a way of showing that the team members are true Maasais while still working to move their society forward.

“We want to show people that we are trying to battle some of the retrogressive issues in our culture,” he said. “But the good part of the culture, it’s there all the time,” he added, pointing to his necklaces.

While passionate about cricket, the team still needs plenty of practice should players raise the funds to go to Lord’s.

But professionals are optimistic. Vikram Dayal, an ex-Mumbai cricketer heading a touring team playing in Kenya, was quick to praise the Maasai’s “raw and natural talent” at the game, and said he is hopeful team members could one day “be playing for the national team”.