Kenyan skipper Jimmy Kamande described Steve Tikolo as a fearless cricketer who bats like a gun.
Nearing 40, the inspirational batsman, who will bid adieu to international cricket when he turns up against Zimbabwe in his fifth World Cup appearance on Sunday, was instrumental in their qualification in the 1996.
"Tikolo brought Kenyan cricket into world map in the 1996 edition and is a legend", Kamande said.
"We call him gunnzie (who bats like a gun). He is a legend, he is the man actually who made us play one-day international cricket. He is the one who made us qualify for the first time in 1996 World Cup," Kamande said.
"I remember watching him play in the qualifiers in 1995.
We owe a lot to the guy, hopefully, we will send him off with a win," an emotional Kamande said of Tikolo, who will make his final appearance when he turns up against Zimbabwe in their group A concluding match at the Eden Gardens.
Having represented in 133 ODIs, more than half of them as captain, Tikolo was a part of a successful era in Kenyan cricket that saw them beat the West Indies in 1996 with the Caribbean side boasting of Brian Lara, Richie Richardson, Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh.
Tikolo was there when they beat India in 1998 and 2001 and led his side to wins over Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh and Canada to make the semi-finals of the 2003 World Cup.
"Tikolo brought Kenyan cricket into world map in the 1996 edition and is a legend", Kamande said.
"We call him gunnzie (who bats like a gun). He is a legend, he is the man actually who made us play one-day international cricket. He is the one who made us qualify for the first time in 1996 World Cup," Kamande said.
"I remember watching him play in the qualifiers in 1995.
We owe a lot to the guy, hopefully, we will send him off with a win," an emotional Kamande said of Tikolo, who will make his final appearance when he turns up against Zimbabwe in their group A concluding match at the Eden Gardens.
Having represented in 133 ODIs, more than half of them as captain, Tikolo was a part of a successful era in Kenyan cricket that saw them beat the West Indies in 1996 with the Caribbean side boasting of Brian Lara, Richie Richardson, Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh.
Tikolo was there when they beat India in 1998 and 2001 and led his side to wins over Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh and Canada to make the semi-finals of the 2003 World Cup.
