Dhiren Gondaria has pledged a recovery after Kenya’s bottom-place Challenge League A finish.
Dhiren Gondaria turns his focus to Africa T20 qualifiers as Cricket Kenya plans more playing opportunities for national teams.
Kenya cricket captain Dhiren Gondaria has promised a recovery after the national team finished bottom of ICC Challenge League A. The competition, which concluded at Nairobi Gymkhana over the weekend, offered a pathway to the 2027 World Cup qualifier.
Kenya opened the final round with a 103-run victory over Denmark earlier in the week. They also defeated Papua New Guinea by 88 runs in their closing match on Saturday.
However, those victories could not lift the team from the bottom of the overall standings. Gondaria said Kenya entered the final round in fifth place, while defeat against Qatar damaged morale and momentum.
Kenya cricket shifts focus to T20 qualifiers
Gondaria said the team only recovered its rhythm in the final match against Papua New Guinea. He nevertheless welcomed the strong finish and highlighted lessons that could help improve performances in future competitions.
The captain praised Francis Mutua, who earned the player-of-the-match award against Papua New Guinea. He also identified Mutua as a player capable of helping the national team progress in the years ahead.
Meanwhile, Gondaria welcomed the contributions of newcomers in the squad despite the disappointing overall result. He said the players would build on their tournament experience and work on confidence to improve results.
Attention now turns to the forthcoming Africa T20 Qualifiers finals. That competition forms part of the qualification pathway to the 2028 ICC T20 World Cup.
Cricket Kenya plans more bilateral matches
Cricket Kenya chairman Bhavesh Gohil praised the team’s victories over Denmark and Papua New Guinea. He said the players delivered commendable performances despite entering the tournament without sufficient match exposure.
To address that concern, Gohil said the board plans bilateral series for the men’s and women’s national teams. He highlighted the need for more opportunities in the 50-over format, where he believes Kenya has considerable potential.
Gohil also welcomed the ICC’s decision to award Kenya hosting rights after Qatar withdrew. He described the decision as a sign of confidence in Kenya’s infrastructure and Cricket Kenya’s new leadership.
Meanwhile, he said Norway, Austria, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates had expressed interest in bilateral series. Gohil also outlined plans for national and under-19 teams, alongside work to establish a women’s league to revive the women’s game.
