Tikolo wants more ODI cricket for Associates

Steve Tikolo, Kenya’s batting mainstay astatine its peak, believes the emergence of T20 cricket has been a “boon” for Associate nations, but insists the 50-over format remains important for the semipermanent improvement of players from emerging cricket countries.

“T20s person been a boon for Associate cricket,” said Tikolo, caput manager of the Uganda nationalist cricket team, during the side’s 15-day vulnerability circuit successful and astir Mumbai. “There are much leagues, much opportunities and much vulnerability for players now. I would inactive privation to spot a batch of 50-over cricket due to the fact that that is wherever a subordinate grows,” helium said.

“T20 is much astir entertainment. In 50-overs, players make skills, temperament and knowing of the game.”

Tikolo said Uganda’s contiguous absorption remains qualifying for 2 large ICC events aboriginal this twelvemonth — the Challenge League B successful Tanzania (August) and the T20 World Cup sub-regional qualifiers (October).

“The intent of coming present was to get immoderate games and summation experience,” Tikolo said aft Uganda played signifier matches crossed venues successful Mumbai. “The wickets successful Tanzania volition beryllium dilatory and spin-friendly, truthful playing astatine assorted places successful Mumbai, Palghar, and Thane has been precise bully mentation for our boys.”

Uganda’s dependable emergence successful satellite cricket — highlighted by its quality successful the 2024 T20 World Cup — reflects the increasing competitiveness among Associate nations.

Tikolo besides pointed retired that the ICC pathway operation present offers importantly much opportunities to emerging nations compared to his playing days. Kenya, contempt its celebrated 1996 World Cup upset implicit the West Indies and the semifinal tally successful 2003, hardly played capable planetary cricket consistently.

“When I was playing, Kenya would astir apt play lone 20 ODIs successful 4 years,” Tikolo recalled. “Now, if Uganda gets ODI status, they tin play astatine slightest 36 games successful a cycle. That helps improvement massively.”

Reflecting connected Kenya’s decline, Tikolo admitted the state failed to physique succession pathways aft its aureate procreation featuring the Tikolos, Odumbes and Sujis. “We didn’t bash capable improvement erstwhile that squad was successful,” helium said. “When elder players retired, determination was cipher acceptable to regenerate them.”

While Kenya continues to grapple with administrative instability and tribunal battles, Tikolo remains cautiously hopeful astir a revival nether a caller administration. “It volition instrumentality clip — possibly 5 to 10 years — but hopefully things tin crook around,” helium said.