There may be something in that Jim!!
Cricket was introduced to Kenya in the 1880s, after it had been brought under British influence. The first significant match took place in December 1899 when East African Protectorate took on the Rest of the World in Mombasa.
The first Kenyan touring side visited Uganda in 1914 and achieved a five-wicket victory against the hosts.
The East Africa cricket team initially represented all of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda in international cricket. Its first game was against a South African Non-European team in 1958 and it also competed in the 1975 ICC Cricket World Cup and the 1979 ICC Trophy - missing out on qualification for the 1979 World Cup as a result of a poor showing in the latter competition.
Kenya joined the ICC in its own right in 1981 as an Associate Member and its progress was impressive from there on. Its runners-up place in the 1994 ICC Trophy meant it qualified for the 1996 ICC Cricket World Cup in the sub-continent. It was during that tournament that it claimed its most famous victory to date - bowling West Indies out for 93 to claim a 73-run triumph against its exalted rivals.
As a result of these efforts, it was granted ODI status - an accolade it still holds. As a mark of its elevation, Kenya hosted a Quadrangular tournament towards the end of 1996 against Pakistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka.
Kenya's 1999 ICC Cricket World Cup participation was less successful than its debut - losing all five matches - but the team made up for that in 2003.
Although the tournament was primarily hosted in South Africa, two of Kenya's group matches were scheduled to be played on home territory - against New Zealand and Sri Lanka. New Zealand declined to visit Nairobi, due to security concerns, but Sri Lanka did travel over and were beaten by 53 runs.
A previous victory over Canada and subsequent wins over Bangladesh and Zimbabwe earned the Kenyans an unlikely semi-final spot, in which it gave India a scare before succumbing by 91 runs.
Off-field problems have contributed to a subsequent downturn in the fortunes of Kenya Cricket, with the 2007 Cricket World Cup their only major international tournament since the heady days of 2003.
The first part of 2010 was not a happy period in the history of Kenyan cricket, with a planned strike by the players threatening to disrupt their participation in Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 1. Although the strike was eventually called off, a warm-up tour of England was cancelled and its performances in the Netherlands betrayed a lack of preparation as it lost all five group matches and the play-off for last place with Canada.
Minimal domestic 40-over and 20-over tournaments were held in the build-up to the WCL but it is to be hoped that recently-appointed CEO, Tom Sears, will have an impact on stabilising the game of cricket in Kenya.
The country's women's team offered a ray of light in recent times with a 100 per cent record in the East Africa Women's Cricket Championship on home soil in December 2009.
Washington: US President Barack H Obama can cook keema and dal. He is a fan of cricket but terrible with bats.
These little known secrets about Obama were revealed during his interview to Dawn television of Pakistan where he reflected upon his acquaintance with the South Asian culture. "As you know, I had Pakistani roommates in college who were very close friends of mine. I went to visit them when I was still in college.. was in Karachi and went to Hyderabad," said the US President. "Their mothers taught me to cook," he added. When asked what he can cook, Obama said, "Keema and dal and....You name it, I can cook it".
And, it doesn't stop at that.
The US President further revealed that he is an admirer of great cricket players, but doesn't know how to bat despite making several attempts. "You know, I have to say that I have tried to get up to bat a couple of times, but I've been terrible," Obama said in response to a question. "So I am an admirer of great cricket players, but make no claims in terms of my own skills," he mentioned.
But he's not the first...
In fact the first US President to witness a cricket match and that too a test match was Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower who had visited National stadium Karachi, on 8th December 1959 to witness the fourth days play of the third test match between visiting Richie Benaud’s Australian team and Pakistan.
Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower was presented with a Pakistan blazer on the occasion. Interestingly, on wearing the Pakistan blazer, Richie Benaud and Australian team manager Sam Loxton addressed him in a light mood, 'Mr. President You have joined the other camp'.
American President replied 'Of course I am wearing their colours'. Ike signed autograph on a bat and examined a Pakistan made Cricket ball. On arrival of the two Presidents National Anthems were played, play had stopped and players stood to attention which was an unusual happening in a Cricket test. Both teams were later presented to the US President. The then President of Pakistan Field Marshal Muhammad Ayub Khan accompanied Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower.
