NAIROBI, July 11 – Veteran wicket-keeper Kennedy Otieno Obuya and Rageb Aga have been recalled to the national cricket team for the forthcoming tour of Europe.
Obuya played a vital role in the team that reached the Cricket World Cup semifinals in 2003.
He last played for Kenya in 2006 and has been missing in action since then after falling out with the team’s administrators while former skipper Aga who plays county cricket with Sussex is also back for the first time since 2006 when he left the country for further studies.
Rakep Patel is also back after year out while Lameck Onyango has been dropped in the 16 man team announced by Cricket Kenya selectors on Friday.
Steve Tikolo has retained the captaincy assisted by Thomas Odoyo while there will be a reunion of the Obuya brothers with Kennedy joining younger siblings David and Collins.
The team faces a hectic month and a half with World Cup qualifiers and International Cricket Council (ICC) Intercontinental fixtures to tackle. They leave for the United Kingdom on July 17.
While in London, Kenya will play several practice matches in both Twenty20 and one day matches to prepare for the Twenty 20 World Cup qualifiers in Ireland.
Kenya will face Scotland, Bermuda, Holland, Ireland and Canada in the qualifying matches slated between August 1-5 with the top two teams qualifying for 2010 Twenty20 World Cup.
After the qualifiers, they will travel top Glasgow where they will play Scotland in a four Intercontinental match between August 7-10 which will be followed by two one day internationals against the same opponents.
The national team will then travel to Netherlands where they will play their second Intercontinental match against the Dutch again followed by a one day international match against the hosts.
They will then travel back to Belfast for three one day international matches against Ireland before flying back to Nairobi on August 29.
Squad:
Stephen Ogonji Tikolo (Capt), Thomas Odoyo Migai (V-Capt), Kennedy Otieno Obuya, Morris Ouma Amollo, Collins Omondi Obuya, Peter Jimmy Carter Ongondo, Ondik Otieno Suji, Hiren Ashok Varaiya, Rakep Rajendrabhai Patel, James Kabatha Kamande, Nehemiah Odhiambo Ngoche, Elijah Otieno Asoyo, Alex Obanda Auma, Ragheb Gul Aga, David Oluoch Obuya and Alfred Luseno Sorongo
Reserves; Lameck Onyango Ngoche and Moses Otieno Onyuro
Officials
Joseph Mutisya Muthike Physio
Martin Armon Suji Asst. Coach
Alfred Njuguna Njoroge Match Analyst
Davinder Singh Bharij Team Manager
Andrew Michael Kirsten National Coach
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