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Nairobi in running to host ICC knock-out

International Cricket Council president Jagmohan Dalmiya will recommend that Kenya hosts the ICC knock-out tournament next year.

Dalmiya reached his decision after completing an inspection of Kenya's facilities ahead of a council decision on who should host the tournament that features the nine Test-playing nations.

The Kenyan capital Nairobi is competing with Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, Disney World in the United States and Dhaka in Bangladesh for the second edition of the tournament, to be held from October 5 to 15, 2000.

''After meeting president Daniel Arap Moi and top government officials on Tuesday, I am convinced there is total government support and I will recommend that Nairobi hosts the second edition of the tournament,'' Dalmiya told a news conference.

Dalmiya said Sharjah was ahead of Nairobi in terms of internationally-accepted infrastructure but the ICC would like to bring the tournament to Kenya in line with its policy of globalising the sport.

He flew straight to London yesterday for the ICC executive meeting to decide the tournament hosts.

''Nairobi is on top of our priority list but things must be put in place to convince us that they deserve the tournament,'' Dalmiya told reporters.

''Facilities and grounds that can accommodate a minimum seating capacity of 15,000 people must be in place by that time,'' said Dalmiya, speaking at a news conference.

He said grounds must also have floodlights, a medical centre, a media centre, changing rooms of international standard and three grounds for nets.

UNI