da dobrowin： Will Luke attends the launch of the World Cricket League
da bwin： Will Luke in Nairobi28-Jan-2007
Dancers at Parklands Sports Club during the opening ceremony of the World Cricket League © Cricinfo/Will Luke
Kenya has been waiting for this, but it was only when Samir Inamdar,their chairman, received rapturous applause for his speech that werealised just how much the World Cricket League means to the country.”I think I speak on behalf of many associates that, to many a fullmember – perhaps even a cricketer – the cream of Associate cricketremains a mysterious enigma,” he said at the WCL opening ceremony, atParklands in Nairobi. “No one really knows how good they are, how wellthey will perform in the World Cup. Over the next two weeks we standto learn just how good they are and that alone is a huge step forward.The eyes of the world will be on us today.”Inamdar was speaking at a lavish, marquee ceremony in the district ofParklands on the eve of the first match between Kenya and Bermudatomorrow. Cultural dancers, local to the district, performed adazzling display of hamstring-tweaking manoeuvres to a large audience,made up of the six participating teams, media, administrators andalmost anyone with even the vaguest connection to cricket in Kenya.There was a strong sense from the group of people collected that herethey all were “in it together,” fighting the once spiritless cause oflower-tier cricket. Recognition at last.”Kenya is proud to host this event because, for too long, the countryhas been in the news for precisely the wrong reasons,” Inamdar said.”I’m not prepared to dwell on the past, but what I do say is we havemade enormous progress in the way our cricket is managed. But we arestill not out of the woods and an enormous amount of work remains tobe done. We are in for an exciting time in the next 10-12 days.”It is too early for congratulatory back-slapping – the opening game ofthe tournament is still some 12 hours away. But tonight confirmed thezeal and fervour for cricket in Kenya. Win lose or draw, it is animmensely encouraging sign for the future.
