NAIROBI, Kenya, October 25 – Kenya have summoned veterans Steve Tikolo and Thomas Odoyo out of retirement to join the national team for next month’s World Twenty20 qualifiers in the UAE, cricket officials said.
Tikolo, 42, and 36-year-old Odoyo, who served as captain and vice-captain in the past, quit the sport after the 2011 World Cup, but have continued to play in the local league.
Kenya is desperate to return to winning aways after a disappointing run in the ICC Intercontinental Cup and World Cricket League series this season.
“The Kenya team badly needs the leadership to become competitive again,” a top Cricket Kenya official told AFP.
“We considered recalling Tikolo and Odoyo to motivate the youngsters in the team since both players have showed they were still competitive by scoring big runs in the Nairobi Cricket League.”
Sixteen teams will compete in the November 15-30 tournament in the United Arab Emirates, from which only six will qualify for the World Twenty20 in Bangladesh in March 2014.
