Kenyan cricket will suffer following the five-year suspension of former national captain Maurice Odumbe, current skipper Steve Tikolo said on Wednesday.
Odumbe was found guilty of inappropriate contact with a bookmaker and banned by the Kenya Cricket Association (KCA) on Tuesday.
"The players are down after getting news of the suspension," Tikolo said. "Odumbe has been an integral part of this team and his absence will affect our performance in the future."
Tikolo described the ban imposed by the KCA as "unfair", adding that Odumbe had always given his best for his country.
"I have known Odumbe for a long time and he always gives 100 percent in his appearances," he said.
Odumbe, an all rounder, has scored over 1,400 runs and taken 39 wickets in 61 one-day internationals since his debut in 1990.
He sprung to prominence at the 1996 World Cup when he was named man of the match for a spell of three for 14 that helped Kenya to a huge upset win over West Indies.
Odumbe captained the African nation at the 1999 World Cup and played a key role in their shock run to the 2003 World Cup semi-finals in South Africa.
KCA chairman Sharad Ghai said on Wednesday the cricketing body had not yet decided whether to replace Odumbe in their squad for next month's ICC Champions Trophy one-day tournament in England.
"Odumbe's lawyer has indicated that he will appeal and we are waiting for the outcome before making any decision regarding his place in the team. We are not in a hurry to replace him," said Ghai.
Odumbe was banned on the recommendations of former Zimbabwean Supreme Court Judge Ahmed Ebrahim, who oversaw a four-day International Cricket Council hearing in July.
