Notebook

Kenya battens down the hatches; Olonga rumors dispelled

DURBAN, South Africa (AP) -- Kenya's cricket team has gone out of character and isolated itself from the media as the pressure mounts ahead of Thursday's World Cup semifinal against India at Kingsmead.

"It has been a bit crazy over the last few days, with the guys concentrating more on interviews than cricket," admitted assistant coach Andy Kirsten.

"There will be no interview opportunities any more until after the final practice on the day before the match," added Riaz Richards, former kit master and now media liaison officer for Kenya.

So, the team which has captured the hearts of the South African public since the Proteas made a first-round exit has changed a strategy which helped it become the first team without test status to reach the semifinals at a World Cup.

Kenya's management also shut off the net practice Tuesday to the media as the team tried to keep its focus on the task at hand.

AUSSIE, AUSSIE, AUSSIE!!!; NO, NO, NO!!!: Ever since South Africa slumped out of the World Cup in the first round, cricket fans in the host nation have adopted another team to support: anyone who is playing Australia.

When the Australians played an inconsequential Super Six match against Kenya -- the last of the four African nations remaining in the Cup -- the crowd was almost unanimous in support for the Kenyans. The others were Australians on World Cup supporter tours.

Barry Richards, a former South African international, said it was obvious the crowd was behind Kenya, but then again, "South Africans are behind anyone who is playing Australia these days."

Former Australian wicketkeeper Ian Healy noticed the trend when Australia took on Sri Lanka in the semifinals.

Fans were flying in from everywhere for the finals stages, he said, and they're supporting Kenya, Sri Lanka and India and everybody else but Australia.

The defending champions have caused some nightmare moments for South African supporters in the past, including a narrow Super Six win and a tied semifinal at the last World Cup, which propelled the Aussies into the final at the expense of the Proteas.

Later in '99, again in England, the Australians beat South Africa's beloved Springboks in the semifinal of the Rugby World Cup and went on to win the title.

NOT SO SECRET POLICE: The South Africa Police Service has dispelled reports that Zimbabwe secret police officers were sent to East London, on South Africa's east coast, to apprehend Henry Olonga and "escort" the fast bowler back to Harare.

Senior Superintendent Selby Bokaba said it had been established that "there are no such people in the country."

Media reports suggested officers from Zimbabwe's Central Intelligence Organization were searching for Olonga in South Africa after he'd gone into hiding.

Olonga said there'd been serious repercussions from his black armband protest during Zimbabwe's opening World Cup match against Namibia at Harare to "mourn the death of democracy" under Robert Mugabe's regime.

The 26-year-old fast bowler has said he'll seek asylum in England, because it's too dangerous to return to Zimbabwe.

Bokaba said four senior officers of the Zimbabwean police -- not the CIO -- were in South Africa as guests of the International Cricket Council and the South Africa Police Service.

They were here "as part of the security for the Cricket World Cup", Bokaba said.

Zimbabwe hosted five World Cup matches. A sixth was planned but was canceled when the England team forfeited.

 

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