Surprise semi-finalists Kenya can show their World Cup run was no flash in the pan in the four-nation Sharjah Cup which gets under way on Thursday.

The Kenyans are still on a high after their stunning progress to the last four in southern Africa, but Pakistan and Zimbabwe will be hoping to block out recent criticism as they try to win the first post-Cup tournament with new-look sides.

Although Kenya became the first non-Test playing nation to reach the last four of the World Cup, the country also finds itself in a re-building process after coach Sandeep Patil decided to return home to India. Kenya could play in the West Indies first-class championship next year as part of their quest to gain Test status.

Since restructuring the home series in 2001, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has invited foreign sides, including England A, Bangladesh and, this season, India A.

WICB president Wes Hall has had discussions with his Kenya counterpart, but details of any arrangement are yet to be finalised.

Kenya Cricket Association (KCA) chairman Jimmy Rayani told the Bloomberg news agency the WICB had offered to meet some of the costs of participating.

The East African side has held official one-day international status for the last four years.

But the International Cricket Council does not expect to hand Kenya full Test status until at least 2005.