The ICC Champions Trophy 2017 is all set to begin from June 1 with England taking on Bangladesh in the opening encounter at The Oval.
Sri Lanka will be facing their fourth and final warm up game against New Zealand today (30th June) at London Oval. They have only won one warm up game against Scotland during the preparation in England and lost their first game against Scotland and third game against Australia.
The high-intensity training camp has been attended, a foreign bowling coach hired, blessings have been sought, declarations of confidence made, and the press has been conferenced, but will any of that help Sri Lanka leave an impact on the Champions Trophy?
Their reality is stark. Sri Lanka's first game of the tournament is against South Africa, who whitewashed them 5-0 earlier in the year. Their second match is against India, who have beaten them 12 times in their last 15 meetings. Even Pakistan - Sri Lanka's third opponent - whose own ODI form has been modest, defeated Sri Lanka at home in the most-recent bilateral series between them. Never in this century, perhaps, has a Sri Lanka side approached a global tournament with expectations so low.
There is the belief someone like Lakshan Sandakan, the left-arm wristspinner, can make his presence felt during the opposition's middle overs.
Most of all, Sri Lanka are desperate for a roaring return to ODIs for their longtime match-winner, Lasith Malinga. Though he hasn't played an ODI since 2015, largely due to injury, Malinga's form did appear to improve through the recent IPL. Earlier in the year, Malinga's return to T20s also showcased just how much his experience can lift the attack - not only is he an expert end-overs operator, even the other bowlers appear to lift their performance when Malinga takes the tough roles off their hands.
But even with Malinga, it is as yet unclear whether he will be fit enough to deliver 10 overs at full intensity. Where other teams have form, runs and wickets behind them, Sri Lanka have only hope.
Champions Trophy history
1998 - Semi-finalists
2000 - Knocked out at first stage
2002 - Joint-champions
2004 - Knocked out at group stage
2006 - Knocked out at group stage
2009 - Knocked out at group stage
2013 - Semi-finalists
