Exclusive by Scott Heinrich
World Cup giantkillers Kenya could be playing Test cricket by 2006.
Kenya could have more cause for celebration in three years' time
The International Cricket Council (ICC) told the BBC Sport website it was working with Kenya to make them the next Test-playing nation.
"There is a proposal on the table and if that goes ahead Kenya will be playing Test cricket in three years," the ICC's development manager Andrew Eade said.
"We want the Kenyan Cricket Association (KCA) to defer their application for three years on the proviso we would work closely with them and provide funding to ebstablish the longer game.
"Kenya are undoubtedly the strongest non-Test country by playing standards.
"But there are development and infrastructure issues that need to be worked on."
Kenya, who shocked Sri Lanka on Monday, would be the 11th Test nation after Bangladesh were admitted in 2000.
The Tigers were given Test status after their 1999 World Cup upset over Pakistan, but they are still seeking a first victory.
Eade admitted Bangladesh were admitted prematurely and said the ICC did not want to make the same mistake with Kenya.
"The ICC wants to ensure that when Kenya become a Test nation they don't go through the same problems as Bangladesh where they haven't got the skills to play at that level," he said.
"When Bangladesh were admitted, all the indicators were there that they would quickly come up to speed.
"But we threw them in there a little bit early and it showed there is a big difference between Test and one-day cricket.
"The experience of Bangladesh has shown the ICC we need to be very careful before admitting teams to Test status because it is totally different game."