Kenya have been stripped of the rights to host the 2010 Under-19 World Cup after an ICC report concluded that with only eight months to go before the event, it was "unrealistic" to expect Kenya to be ready to host the tournament. New Zealand will be hosts, subject to the agreement of satisfactory terms.

The decision was described by one leading Associate official as a "sad, sad day", while another accused the ICC of engineering "little more than a stitch-up".

ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat described the outcome as "a difficult conclusion to have reached and a regrettable one".

While Cricket Kenya has yet to respond, other Associates have privately told Cricinfo that the decision effectively kills the chances of a non-major country hosting such an event again.

Kenya, who have spent more than US$150,000 on ground improvements, now face a massive loss. The ICC was not able to provide anything by way of solace other than assurances it would look into the situation.

In theory, the U-19 World Cup is an event which is used to boost the profile of the game outside the Full Member countries.