THE Kenyan national cricket team is coming to Darwin to take on the Territory’s best talent.

The NT News can reveal the team will stop in the Territory next month and play three games in the Top End.

It is understood NT Cricket is just days away from finalising the deal to bring Kenya to Darwin in May.

Kenya will play three 50-over matches against the Northern Territory Strike at Marrara Cricket Ground between May 18 and 25.

The Territory’s connection with Papua New Guinea, through the SACA Premier League, instigated the African side’s upcoming visit.

Kenya and PNG are set to play the final third-round matches of ICC World Cricket League Championships on May 28 and 30 at Amini Park in Port Moresby.

Cricket Kenya asked the PNG Barramundis about the potential of any warm-up games on the way to PNG, with PNG officials suggesting the Strike.

For the Strike, the games against Kenya will be used as a training camp ahead of the SACA Premier League, which will commence following the climax of the Darwin and Districts cricket competition.

It is understood a wider Strike squad will be selected to give a number of players a chance to impress against the international opposition and push their chances for selection.

The squad will not be limited to Top End cricketers, with Alice Springs-based players expected to be included also, with Megha Hettige and Ben Ellis at the top of the list for potential inclusions.

Kenya have played at five cricket World Cups with their best result a semi-finals berth in 2003, where many called for the minnows to be handed Test playing status.

Since then, the positive results have dried up on the international stage, as they lost their One Day International and T20 International status in 2014, after failing to qualify for the 2015 World Cup and the 2014 World Twenty20.

The ICC WCLC that Kenya and PNG compete in is an elite 50-over competition played between leading Associate and Affiliate members and is pathway for participating teams to play in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2018 and subsequently have a chance to qualify for ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.

Kenya are in a transition phase after celebrated cricketers Steve Tikolo and Martin Suji were axed by Cricket Kenya from their coaching roles in recent weeks.

The two had been members of CK coaching staff for more than two years.

Kenya are fourth on the ICC WCLC table, with the Barramundis two slots lower in the eight-nation tournament.