Kenya to stage two matches in 2003 World Cup

Kenya will stage two matches at cricket's 2003 World Cup, joining Zimbabwe as South Africa's co-hosts for the four-yearly showpiece, organizers said.

Of 54 games, 46 will be held at 12 venues in South Africa, six at two stadiums in Zimbabwe, with the others taking place at Nairobi's Gymkhana Club ground. The tournament is scheduled for February and March, 2003.

"Logistically it presents a few problems but we're delighted," said South African organizing committee spokesman Rodney Hartman. "As Africa's strongest cricketing nation, it's incumbent on us to spread the sport as far as we can in the region."

Kenya has won eight of 41 one-day internationals before today, including a World Cup match with West Indies in 1996 and a game against India this week.

The country is applying to the International Cricket Council to be admitted into the five-day form of international cricket.

Former Test players Zaheer Abbas, Andy Pycroft and Allan Border will visit the country to review cricket-related aspects of the application for Test match status, the ICC said.

Africa will be represented by four nations at the World Cup for the first time following the qualification of Namibia.

Meantime, the 2003 World Cup winner will receive $2 million out a prize fund of $5 million, the ICC said. Prizes at the 1999 World Cup amounted to $1 million.