Sanath Jayasuriya’s Sri Lanka take on Zimbabwe in the opening match of the Sharjah Champions Trophy on Friday hoping to make it a hat-trick of titles at the venue.
The team won last year’s event, beating India in the deciding game, and took the Sharjah Cup in April, when they saw off Pakistan who feature again this time.
Jayasuriya would be more than delighted with a repeat of last year’s extraordinary success, which included one of the most one-sided results in the history of the one-day game.
The Sri Lankan captain hit 189 off 161 balls out of a total of 299 before India were bowled out for a paltry 54, Chaminda Vaas taking five for 14.
Yes, we have played well in the last couple of tournaments in Sharjah, but then that doesn't guarantee us another victory,'' Jayasuriya said. We will have to work hard.‘’
Pakistan, however, will be rusty – they also have a new coach at the helm – while Zimbabwe have changed personnel after their demoralising 5-0 one-day series defeat to England at home left them with 12 straight defeats.
That led to Heath Streak resigning as captain while former Australian test batsman Geoff Marsh is their new coach after replacing Carl Rackemann this month.
Pakistan, meanwhile, have barely played any cricket since returning from their tour of England in June. Their one international outing, against Bangladesh in the Asian Test Championship in August, lasted just three days.
A proposed meeting with India fell through before regional tension following the attacks on the U.S. in September led to Sri Lanka and New Zealand cancelling planned visits.
Coach Mudassar Nazar, however, on a short-term contract after the departure of Richard Pybus, said of his team: They are hungry for success, as ever. The boys kept themselves in good nick by playing on the domestic circuit.‘’
Captain Waqar Younis added: ``Both Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe are very good sides, but I think the Lankans will be the one to beat.‘’
Zimbabwe, in truth, are anything but a good side.
New captain Brian Murphy has a massive job ahead after Zimbabwe’s clueless performances against an experimental England line-up.
Seeking some cause for optimism, Murphy said: ``The strongest point of the team is its willingness to work hard. All of them all are keen to sweat it out and want to be a tough side to beat.‘’
As usual, they will rely heavily on Andy Flower’s batting, particularly since the out-of-form Alistair Campbell has been dropped.
The teams play each other twice before the final on November 4.
The tournament will be closely monitored by the International Cricket Council (ICC). Sharjah has been proposed as a possible neutral venue for Pakistan ‘home’ matches following the Afghanistan crisis.