Captain Patel optimistic ahead of Hong Kong cricket clash

Kenya Captain Rakep Patel has backed his side to beat Hong Kong to gain the four points needed to enter the 2019 ICC World Cup draw in Nepal.

Patel will lead the Kenyan Cricket team against Hong Kong on Friday and on Sunday in their two-game series at the Nairobi Gymkhana in their quest to participate in the qualifiers.

The 27-year-old told Citizen Digital on Wednesday that their recent meetings with Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Uganda during August’s Quadrangular series games have helped the side and helped them measure against their expectations with focus now shifting to their first crucial match on Friday.

It will be the first time Kenya is hosting an ICC event since July 2011 when they hosted the United Arab Emirates in the ICC Intercontinental Cup and the World Cricket League matches.

Kenya, who have six points from their win, draw and a loss must beat Hong Kong who are fourth with nine points to increase their chances of qualifying. Papua New Guinea top the log tied on 12 points with Netherlands but have a superior run rate while Scotland are third with 11 points.

The Kenyans won 2-0 against Namibia, drew 1-1 with United Arab Emirates (UAE) before losing 0-2 to Papua New Guinea. Other matches lined up for Kenya are against table leaders Netherlands, second-placed Scotland and Nepal who are below them on the log.

Head Coach Thomas Odoyo has backed the team to put behind them the recent dip in form fall of the national Cricket team, urging his side to learn from their mistakes.

“We have had a lot of training and a lot of internal matches but obviously they are not that ideal because we have not had a team coming in but I still think that is enough for our preparation,” the former right-handed batsman and medium-fast bowler stated.

“Saudi Arabia and Qatar are not at the same standards in Cricket as Hong Kong  but my boys tried their best and it is always good to have that winning mentality within us every time. We have won our last 50 over matches and so we are in good spirits.

“In our last matches we played well as a unit and most of our batsman did well considering that we have been having a great problem in batting and most of our batters did a great job and our all-rounders did well in batting the ball and at the moment am happy for my team,” Odoyo added.

He stressed that his current team must work hard in order to attain the standards set by the 2003 side and with ICC making the qualification tighter his boys have a great task before the World Cup in England and Wales

“It takes the effort of the boys to reach the standards of the 2003 world cup semifinalists and it their task to make their own history. At our time we made ours and it’s their chance to have the hunger. The road to the World Cup has been made tight as ICC has tightened teams in terms of qualification as now you have to work extra hard for qualification and so my boys must put effort to be there” Odoyo added.

Kenya had failed to in its bid to host international matches due to security concerns but with the government moving to reassure the country is ready to host a World class event, the ICC returns to the country for the first time in five years.

Other teams that are competing to qualify for the World Cup are Scotland, Namibia, Netherlands, Papua New Guinea, Nepal, Hong Kong and the UAE.

-Report by Richard Obaga.