Cricket World Cup: Which team will your shirt be on? A nation by nation guide to the Cricket World Cup - Kenya

VERDICT: Their work was already cut out because they are the only side who must play all five of their group matches against Test nations. Late preparation has also been badly affected by poor form and distrust among the ranks. In a tri-nation tournament in Bangladesh in March they were humiliated in the final by Zimbabwe, going down by 202 runs. Not long afterwards, their former captain, Maurice Odumbe, still one of their star players, lambasted the methods of coach Alvin Kallicharran. He was fined and warned but it indicated grave unrest. They will be intermittently entertaining, especially with Odumbe's middle-order partner, Steve Tikolo, who possesses lavish and ferocious strokeplay, but true competitiveness may elude them.

EMERGING HERO: Tom Odoyo is the second youngest player to have appeared in the World Cup finals (at 17 years, 282 days) and played a significant role in their most famous victory (see below). He will be 21 two days before the start of this tournament and is their fastest bowler as well as being a growing swashbuckler with the bat. He has played in 24 of Kenya's 25 one-dayers.

ACHILLES' HEEL: While the hosts are perhaps making too much of the advantage they may gain from home conditions, Kenya's inexperience here will seriously undermine their prospects.

HISTORICAL POINT: On 29 February 1996, Kenya were dismissed for a paltry 166 by West Indies. What followed was the stuff of World Cup romance. West Indies (Richie Richardson and Brian Lara included) were all out in 35.2 overs for 93: the biggest Cup upset of all.

SILLY POINT: Don Pringle, who played for Kenya, and in the 1975 World Cup for East Africa, and Derek Pringle, who played for England in 1987 and 1992, were the first father and son to take part in the tournament.

RECORD: 1996 1st round.

SQUAD: Asif Karim (capt), M O Odumbe, S O Tikolo, R Shah, H S Modi, T Odoyo, K Otieno, A Vadher, M Suji, A Suji, S K Gupta, J Angara, J Kamande, M Sheikh, D Chudasama.

ODDS: 250-1.