Kenya loses ODI status after loss to Scotland

Kenyan cricket suffered a double blow on Thursday following the national team's three-wicket loss to Scotland in their World Cup qualifier in New Zealand by losing their one-day international status.

Kenya, once regarded as one of the strongest associate members of the International Cricket Council (ICC) needed to win the final Super Six game to avoid losing its ODI status after failing to secure a place in the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

"It is sad for Kenya cricket but there is nothing we can do about the situation. We have to wait for the team to come back on Sunday before deciding the way forward," a top Cricket Kenya official told AFP.

Kenya was awarded the one-day ranking in 1997 following their impressive World Cup debut the previous year.

But a series of administrative malpractices, coupled with internal strife among the national team players have led to a sharp decline over the last decade.

Three older players including former team captain Steve Tikolo were called out of retirement to play in the New Zealand tournament and help Kenya to their sixth successive World Cup appearance.

Kenya is also set to lose out being part of the ICC High Performance Programme, launched in 2001 to assist in the funding of the development programmes within the leading ICC Associate member countries.
 

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