New Kenya cricket league launched this week

Kenya is to launch a new national cricket league starting this weekend based on the three formats of the game, officials said on Wednesday.

The league will involve 64 of the best players in four regional sides with nearly all the members of the national team, who returned from the tour of the United Arab Emirates earlier this week, drafted into teams to provide strong competition between the sides.

Cricket Kenya chief executive Tom Tikolo said the league, which was initiated by the African Cricket Association (ACA) will become a permanent fixture on the national calender and would provide a stage for players to stake their claim to a place in the national team.

"The national team selection will now henceforth depend on the players' participation in the said league," Tikolo said.

The tournament gets underway with the Twenty-20 on February 16, followed by the ODI and the three-dayers in April.