Kenyan cricket team arrived home on Tuesday after losing by six-wicket to Ireland in the recently concluded ICC Intercontinental Cup final in Namibia.

Speaking on arrival in Nairobi, team captain Steve Tikolo called for the better management of the sport in the country and attributed the team's loss to Ireland to lack of professional approach to the game.

"The Kenya Cricket Association needs to adopt a professional approach to the sport and that is one area why we lost," the 34-year old batsman told reporters.

"They have to start from the top and this will trickle down to the players. The days of playing cricket as a social sport are over," he added.

The issue of putting players on contract has been a major problem to the sport.

"The Kenyan cricket will only progress ahead once the players have been put on contract by the KCA," said Tikolo.

Ireland last week claimed the ICC Intercontinental Cup 2005 title by beating Kenya by six wickets in a thrilling climax in Windhoek, Namibia.

Ireland becomes the second European winner of the event, following in the footsteps of Scotland who won the inaugural title in 2004.

Victory in the final of the 12-team event gives Ireland the right to lay claim to being the best first-class nation outside the Test arena.

Their path to the final saw them beat Scotland and complete winning draws against Holland and UAE.

Source: Xinhua