Ex-Kenya captain Odumbe eyes one more World Cup

Former national cricket team captain Maurice Odumbe is determined to play for the country in one more World Cup before retiring.

The next cricket World Cup will be hosted by India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in 2011.

Odumbe is serving a five-year ban slapped on him four years ago by the International Cricket Council for associating with a bookmaker. The ban ends next year.

Speaking to the Nation on Wednesday, Odumbe said he was confident Kenya would rise to the occasionwhen they take part in the qualifying rounds set for South Africa next April.

“I want to play one more World Cup before hanging my boots. I have no doubts in my mind that Kenya will be in the World Cup,” said Odumbe.

“I am keeping physically fit in preparation for my rejoining the team once this ban is over.”

“Ravindu Shah should be recalled to the team for the qualifier and I believe he will readily agree to come back and assist to see us through.”

Odumbe said that it saddened him to see Kenya struggling against teams they used to easily beat a few years ago.

Kenya has been struggling against other associate members of the ICC after a splendid performance during the 2003 World Cup hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya, when the country went all the way to the semi-finals.

Odumbe was a guiding light in the squad and to date the team has not found his replacement. He used to be an active player when the Nairobi Provincial Cricket Association league was competitive.

He used to play for Aga Khan Sports Club, with his elder brother, Edward Tito. Odumbe’s two other brothers, Bernard Owino and the late Martin Oriwa, played for Swamibapa.

Odumbe will turn 40 next June. At associate level, he was sure he could still make an impact. Before the ban he had played 61 one-day internationals, scoring 1,409 runs with a best of 83. In first class matches, he had 893 runs with a best of 207.

As a bowler, he was an off spinner. He claimed 39 ODI wickets with a best of four for 38 and 40 first class wickets with a best of 6-64.

Odumbe got man-of-the match awards in all the three World Cups he took part in from 1996 to 2003.