Johannesburg: Impressed with Kenya's extra-ordinary performance in the World Cup, the International Cricket Council on Saturday decided to expedite its application for a Test status. Kenya, which became the first non-Test playing country to reach the semi- finals of the World Cup, can be considered for Test status in 2005, one year before it was scheduled, ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed told reporters here after a two-day executive board meeting. "It was proposed by ICC that it will work with Kenya to develop a strategic plan, which included putting a mechanism in place to expose them to a longer version of cricket," Speed said. The cash-strapped Kenyan cricket will also benefit from a guaranteed amount of $ 500,000 each year for development of infrastructure while more first-class matches will be arranged for the team to prepare it for the big league, Speed said. Extras:
Bacher asks the Kenyans not to rush into big time

Tags: cricket, world cup 2003, kenya, international cricket council, malcolm speed, executive board meeting.