Left-handed batsman Hitesh Modi was named the new captain of Kenya on Thursday as selectors were forced to name a second string squad because of a boycott by the nation's top cricketers.

Modi will lead the side in the three-day ICC Intercontinental Cup match against Namibia starting on Friday at the Aga Khan Sports Club, Nairobi.

Most senior players said on Wednesday they would boycott the match unless their contracts, which are due to end on Thursday, were extended by a year.

Steve Tikolo resigned as captain last week after the ICC Champions Trophy in England. He had previously skippered the side to the 2003 World Cup semi-finals.

The only senior players left in the team to meet Namibia are Modi, opener Ravindu Shah, Lameck Onyango and Brijal Patel.

Modi, a steady middle order batsman who bowls off break, made his one-day debut for Kenya in the 1996 World Cup and scored a vital 28 in their historic win over the West Indies.

He also played in the 1999 and 2003 World Cups as well as this month's Champions Trophy.

Full squad: Hitesh Modi (captain), Ravindu Shah, Lameck Onyango, David Okumu, Timothy Muange, Tanmy Mishra, Rashmi Kunverjee, Rageb Aga, Abeed Janmohamed, Brijal Patel, Malhar Patel, Kalpesh Patel, Amit Bhudia, Jadhavji Bhimji, Rajesh Bhudia, Mohsin Ali.