Unsponsored Kenya cash in on success

BLOEMFONTEIN: Kenya came to the Cricket World Cup without a major team sponsor but made sure of leaving with at least US $500,000 after reaching the semi-finals yesterday.

Former captain Maurice Odumbe, who hit the winning runs in a shock seven-wicket win over Zimbabwe yesterday, was not aware of those figures. Told that each team to reach the semi-finals won US $400,000, he responded: “Is that it? “Our manager is currently doing the calculations now. We will come to know about that later. “We’re just thinking about the matches to come.” Kenya’s individual match earnings have also netted them $50,000 dollars in the first round, for four wins and two losses. They have already made another US $60,000 in two Super Six matches, with one match against world champions Australia still to come. Defeat in that match would add another US $20,000. The World Cup winners will earn US $2 million as well as match winnings, with US $800,000 for the runners-up. Kenya’s players are professionals but reaching the Super Sixes will assure them of their biggest pay day ever. Their real ambition, however, is to win Test status to go with their one-day status. They have beaten Test sides Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in the tournament to date.