Australia confirms availability for Kenya series

Australian Cricket Board (ACB) Chief Executive Officer James Sutherland today confirmed Australia's availability for a one-day international series to be played in Kenya during late August and early September 2002.

However, Mr Sutherland said that the Australian team's participation in the series could not be confirmed before the ACB undertakes its usual pre-tour investigations of the venue.

"Before Australian teams travels to any international cricket venues, the ACB needs to be satisfied that a number of security and cricket operational matters are in place," Mr Sutherland said.

"The ACB has informed the Pakistan Cricket Board that the Australian team is available for the Kenyan one-day international series, but participation is subject to our satisfaction that player security measures are in place and cricket facilities are adequate.

"Having played in Kenya only two years ago we have a reasonable level of comfort that it is a suitable venue, but we need to go through some formalities before we confirm our participation."

Mr Sutherland said the pre-tour investigations would be completed as soon as possible.

The ACB's position follows last Friday's (12 July) proposal from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to relocate the series from Pakistan to Kenya.

At this stage, the PCB has not communicated a confirmed series schedule with the ACB.

Australia last played one-day international cricket in Kenya in October 2000, when it lost to India in the first round of the International Cricket Council Knock-out tournament.