Kenya set to tour Namibia, Zimbabwe for T20s

NAIROBI: Kenya will play eight Twenty20s against Namibia and a further two matches in Zimbabwe this month in preparation for next year's World Twenty20 qualifying tournament, Cricket Kenya said Tuesday.

The tour begins on November 2 in Windhoek, which will host all eight Twenty20s. The team travels to Zimbabwe on November 15 to play two top franchise club sides, Mashonaland Eagles and Midwest Rhinos, in Harare.

Kenya has named two separate teams for the tours, with most of the players having featured in the inaugural East Africa Premier League tournament, which also involved Ugandan clubs.

Only one Kenyan club reached the final, and the chairman of selectors, Alpesh Vadher, said the tournament revealed how much the Kenyan side needed to improve.

"Following the completion of the East Africa Premier League these two tours will be crucial in developing our player's skills in this format, ahead of the T20 World Cup qualifying tournament next March," Vadher said.

"The EAPL has shown us that our players have a lot to learn about playing Twenty20 and the more matches we can play against suitable opposition the better.

"The two squads selected give opportunities to a number of players to show they have the ability to make the squad next year."

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2011