Kenya gets ultimatum to commit to play in WCL

Nairobi:

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has given Kenya until Tuesday to confirm its participation in next month's World Cricket League division one tournament or risk being kicked out.

The ultimamum follows a week-long stand-off between Cricket Kenya (CK) and the national team players over contracts which has cast doubt on the country's preparations for the July 1-10 tournament in the Netherlands.

Last week CK was forced to scrap a scheduled tour to England by the team after players boycotted training to support calls for new contracts and the resignation of the board of selectors.

The ICC warned that should Kenya skip the event, it would lose out on its funding, which would have a far-reaching impact on the running of the sport in the country.

In 2005 the ICC froze its funding to Kenyan cricket following allegations of financial mismanagement by the previous governing board, which only resumed after a new board was elected.

However, following the new warning the two sides agreed to hold a face-to-face meeting on Tuesday which was brokered by officials of the Kenya sports ministry.

Kenya, which won the inaugural World Cricket League division one title in 2007, is scheduled to take on the current champions, Ireland in their opening match in Rotterdam on July 1.