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Sharjah ready for cricket feast

Exciting cricket is on the cards when the three-nation Coca Cola Cup championship begins in Sharjah tomorrow, with Sri Lanka taking on the West Indies in the opening encounter.

However, most cricket buffs will watch the performance of Pakistan, the third team in the tournament, with keen interest, as they will be leaving for Australia straight from Sharjah to play a crucial Test and one-day series against the World champions. The Australia tour provides Pakistan an opportunity to avenge their humiliating defeat by the Kangaroos in the World Cup final.

All the three teams are in fine fettle, having tasted success in their recent outings.

The Sri Lankan and West Indies teams have already arrived while Pakistan reach late this evening.

Buoyed by their historic win against Australia in the just-concluded Test and one-day matches, Sri Lanka, under the leadership of master blaster Sanath Jayasuriya, look a much reformed team with many of the youngsters in the side determined to prove their worth.

An upbeat Jayasuriya said: "I know it will be a tough assignment as both Pakistan and the West Indies are top teams in the world but right now our team is combining well."

He said: "The past is behind us. There is no problem in the team and I am getting support from all the senior players in the squad."

The inclusion of Aravinda De Silva will certainly add to the strength of the team.

Sri Lankan coach Dave Whatmore, who has played a pivotal role in changing the fortunes of the team, said: "We are playing well and are confident. Pakistan is a little stronger and you cannot underestimate the West Indies, especially when you have a player like Lara playing."

True to his reputation, Lara struck the second fastest century in one-day cricket against Bangladesh just before coming here. He reached the three-figure mark in just 45 balls as his team thrashed Bangladesh 2-0 in a two-match series.

A relaxed Lara told newspersons: "At the moment, we are a team in the making. There is a lot of young blood in the team and in this tournament we are not expecting an easy ride as both Pakistan and Sri Lanka are top sides and both have been producing their best recently."

Toronto, he said, was a big disappointment as the West Indies could not put its act together and lost to India 1-2 and subsequently went down 0-3 to Pakistan. "I hope things will change a bit this time round." Lara said.

With Wasim Akram again at the helm of affairs, Pakistan have their job cut out as they have to prove that they have left behind the memories of their drubbing at the hands of Australia in the World Cup final. They have already blanked the West Indies 3-0 in the Toronto DMC series recently. The Pakistani team for the Australia tour is to be chosen after the Sharjah Cup.

New Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mujeebur Rehman Khan, who was in Dubai for the International Cricket Council (ICC) governing body meeting, said the World Cup depression was over and "we are now on the right track".

Sri Lanka take on the West Indies in the first match while Pakistan meet the Caribbeans on October 14. Pakistan and Sri Lanka will play on October 15.

The West Indies will have their return match with Sri Lanka on October 17. It will be Pakistan vs Sri Lanka on October 18 and Pakistan vs the West Indies on October 19. The final will be played on October 22.

The Cricketers' Benefit Fund Series (CBFS), the organisers of the tournament, said all matches will be played under floodlights from 1430 hrs local time (1600 hrs IST).

The winner of the tournament will collect 50,000 dollars while the runner-up will get 30,000 dollars. The team finishing third will receive 20,000 dollars.

Also, there will be many individual prizes at stake. The man of the match will get 1,000 dollars while the man of the final will receive 1,500 dollars. The man of the series will collect a cheque for 3,500 dollars. There will be other prizes of 1,000 dollars each for the fastest fifty, best bowler and best fielder.

The beneficiaries this year are Mushtaq Ahmed and Aamir Malik of Pakistan and Malcolm Marshall of the West Indies. Each of them will get 35,000 dollars. The CBFS will also make a contribution to the players' fund of the Sri Lankan Cricket Board.

The matches will be officiated by Steve Dunne (New Zealand), David Shephard (England), Dug Cowie (New Zealand) and Peter Van der Merwe (South Africa).

UNI