Nairobi: Kenya have added 21-year-old seamer Nelson Odhiambo to the squad for the upcoming ODI series against Afghanistan after sliding to a 167-run defeat against the same opposition in the Intercontinental Cup.
Maurice Ouma has resigned as Kenya's captain in the wake of the side's 167-run loss to Afghanistan in the Intercontinental Cup. Vice-captain Jimmy Kamande will take over with immediate effect and will lead the team in the ODI series which starts on Thursday.
"We respect Morris's decision to stand down after what has been a difficult period and would like to thank him for his efforts," Cricket Kenya chief executive Tom Sears said. "We are confident that in Jimmy Kamande we have a captain who can take the squad forward and start producing the results we know our players are capable of."
Ouma took over from Steve Tikolo in June 2009 but had been unable to arrest the continuing slide in Kenya's fortunes. Earlier this year he was at the forefront of a player strike which embarrassed the board and led to losses of more than $60,000 because of the resulting cancellation of a tour of England. At the time there were calls for him to stand down.
"I feel this is the right decision for myself as a player but more importantly for the squad," Ouma said. "I have given the role everything and have been very proud to captain my country but the time is now right for someone else to take on the challenge and lead us to the success we know we can achieve."
Squad Jimmy Kamande (capt), Maurice Ouma (wk), Seren Waters, David Obuya, Collins Obuya, Steve Tikolo, Rakep Patel, , Ragheb Aga, Thomas Odoyo, Nehemiah Odhiambo, James Ngoche, Hiren Varaiya, Elijah Otieno, Nelson Odhiambo.