Kenya to host Zimbabwe in October

Nairobi:

Kenya on Friday confirmed they will host Zimbabwe in four one-day internationals in Nairobi in October despite political turmoil raging in the southern African nation.

Zimbabwe last week pulled out of next year's World Twenty20 championships in England, but remained a full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in a compromise deal aimed at soothing splits in the world game.

But Kenya said it would maintain its cricket ties with Zimbabwe, who are scheduled to arrive in Nairobi on October 8.

"Zimbabwe has supported us in the past. We will be happy to play them, and if we win, it's better for us," Cricket Kenya chief Tom Tikolo told AFP.

The last time the two sides met was in February and March 2006 in Zimbabwe when they tied 2-2 in a five one-day series with one match being abandoned.

Cricket Kenya took their stand despite a call by Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga for Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe to be suspended from the African Union until he allows free and fair elections.

During a recent 2010 football World Cup-African Nations Cup qualifier in Nairobi, Kenyan fans taunted Zimbabwean players by shouting "Mugabe must go, Mugabe must go" as they entered the Nairobi's Nyayo National stadium.