NAIROBI. Mar 2: Kenyan cricket authorities have gone for a blend of youth, experience and ability to withstand cold English weather when selecting the country's 19-member team for the 1999 cricket World Cup, reports AFP.

Selectors' chairman Asif Padamshl said today that cold English weather conditions during the 50 overs tournament in May was a major factor in their selection process.

"We opted for experience in batting and fitness in bowling. Because of the cold conditions, it is going to be difficult for the bowlers and you have to be very fit to adopt to the standards."

Half of the members of the team did duty for Kenya during their first World Cup appearance in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in 1996.

Left-handed spinner Asif Karim will lead the side with all-rounder Maurice Oduinbe, who captained Kenya in 1996. as his deputy.

Two youngsters will be making their debut. Eighteen-year-old student Mohammed Sheikh and Jimmy Kamaride impressed the selectors, who included the new Kenyan coach. Alvin Kallicharan from the West Indies, during month-long trials.

Kenya has been invited to tour Bangladesh for a tri-na-tio.n tournament starting in Dhaka on March 19. The third participants will be Zimbabwe. Kenya's first round World Cup opponents at Taunton on May 15.

SQUAD

Asif Karim (captain). Maurice Odumbe (vice-captain), Steve Tlkolo. Ravindu Shah, Hitesli Modi. Thomas Odoyo, Kennedy Otieno. Albesh Vad-hei Martin Suji. Tony Suji, Sandip Gupta. Joseph Angara. Jimmy Kamande. Mohammed Sheikh. Deepak Chudasama.

Reserves: Francis Otieno. Peter Ochieng, Lantech Onyango. Briial Patel.