Nairobi:The two associations fighting for supremacy in Kenyan cricket welcomed a decision by the International Cricket Council (ICC) to postpone Kenya's Intercontinental Cup qualifier with Namibia.

Both groups had maintained they were the country's legitimate cricket Board and each claimed to have authority over the side that was to have played Namibia in Windhoek from February 25 to 27.

"We're really thankful to the ICC for this gesture," said Isaac Kaluainterim, chairman of Cricket Kenya, which the government named as the sport's official governing body, replacing the panel fired last month for mismanagement.

"They have clearly seen that we would not be in a clear frame of mind to play this high-profile match in the current circumstances," he said.

Meanwhile, the embattled head of the officially sacked Kenya Cricket Association (KCA), Sharad Ghai, said the ICC had acted wisely considering its financial situation after sports minister Achilo Ayacko fired the Board.

"We had asked to have the match postponed because the ICC had not sent money to cater for the trip to Windhoekm" he said. "We needed to pay for the accommodation of the players during the tournament."

The ICC is believed to have stopped funding the KCA since the government began to make its charges of widespread mismanagement and corruption.

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