Cricket Kenya has accepted a move in the direction of skilled contracts for its women’s national group, following requests from gamers for greater safety around their earnings. The board made the choice on October 23, after both the lads’s and ladies’s groups raised issues about funds and bonuses obtained whereas representing the country. Its decision said: “The women’s national group shall be professionalised by means of performance-based contracts.” The approval offers the proposal official backing, although essential details still have to be worked out earlier than gamers know what the new association will imply.
Acting chief executive officer Tariq Iqbal has been given responsibility for getting ready the following stage. He’ll work with the women’s group technical bench to develop a contractual framework and seek the advice of the chief financial officer about the required price range. Cricket Kenya has not announced how many gamers can be covered, the length of the agreements or their financial value. These details stay pending whereas the framework and its funding necessities are developed.
Cricket Kenya vice-chairperson Pearlyne Omamo welcomed the choice and spoke about what knowledgeable structure might imply for gamers. “Cricket could be greater than a ardour; it may be a career,” she mentioned. Omamo defined that the framework would give gifted gamers a clearer path to the very best degree and help ensure their performances are recognised. The final preparations will rely on the framework now being ready.
The board has accepted different measures alongside the proposed contracts. Medical insurance can be provided to both national groups and their technical staff. It has additionally agreed to establish impartial selection panels for the senior women’s group and the Underneath-19 women’s group. Their selection process will comply with the system used for the lads’s national group. These selections got here after the groups raised their issues and form a part of the board’s wider plan.
Consideration will even be given to the pathway from county cricket to the senior national group. Cricket Kenya plans to organise counties into four regions, with every expected to receive funding and equipment. Counties will identify promising gamers and help them develop by means of age-group groups earlier than they move in the direction of the senior side. The federation additionally intends to make use of savings from its restructuring for participant welfare and grassroots development. This connects help at county degree with opportunities within the national groups.
The federation needs these changes to assist Kenya compete more strongly with Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Nigeria. It is also exploring methods to provide the group more worldwide fixtures. One proposal into account is a triangular series involving Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. Nevertheless, the series has not been confirmed and remains an concept being explored reasonably than a scheduled occasion.
Kenya’s latest outcomes present the level of competition the group faces. On the 2025 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Division One Qualifier, Kenya defeated Nigeria by 7 runs within the play-off semi-final. The group then misplaced the fifth-place play-off to Rwanda by 6 runs. Within the ICC women’s T20I rankings, Kenya is positioned thirty first with a ranking of 64. These outcomes present context for the federation’s goal of bettering the group’s competitiveness within the area.
The board has accepted a number of changes, but their influence will rely on how they’re carried out. The contractual framework still wants a price range, and the number of gamers, contract values and agreement periods have not been introduced. The proposed triangular series can also be not confirmed. Cricket Kenya’s plans cowl skilled contracts, medical insurance, impartial selection panels, regional development and more worldwide opportunities. Progress will rely on the ultimate terms, implementation and available sources for gamers.
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