Kenya was once a strong team in cricket, but their fortunes have declined in recent years due to a combination of factors. Here are some key events that have contributed to the decline of Kenyan cricket:
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Loss of ODI status: In 2014, Kenya lost their ODI status after 18 years when they finished outside the top 4 in the Cricket World Cup Qualifier and failed to qualify for the 2015 Cricket World Cup. Further failures in the World Cricket League meant that Kenya couldnt regain their ODI status while being subsequently relegated to the new Challenge League.
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Internal issues: In early 2006, the Kenya Cricket Association was disbanded and replaced by Cricket Kenya. The rebuilding process was in full swing as Kenya began playing ODI cricket again. However, during the 2011 ODI World Cup, there were reports of internal dissent between the team, as the team had a disastrous World Cup, losing all six of their games. Cricket Kenya announced that it would review the World Cup debacle after the tournament was over. This was the beginning of a series of reforms initiated by the board.
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Economic struggles and corruption: Emerging Cricket reports that economic struggles, corruption, and a lack of investment have contributed to the decline of Kenyan cricket.
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Lack of international cricket opportunities: At one point, international cricket for Kenya had virtually ceased. Rebuilding efforts were in full swing from 2005 to 2007, but the team has struggled to regain its former glory.
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Poor performance: Kenyas last World Cup campaign was in 2011, which included one-sided losses. Since then, the team has struggled to compete at the highest level.
Despite these challenges, there have been some bright spots in Kenyan cricket history. For example, in the 2003 World Cup, Kenya finished second in their group and earned a spot in the semi-finals, where they gave India a scare before ultimately losing. They also have 15 ODI victories against test playing nations, including two against India, one against Sri Lanka, and a further victory against the West Indies.
