Reigning champions India, who won the biennial tournament four times so far, will feature in their first match against hosts Lanka on July 18. The lankans lifted the cup on their home soil in 1986. Bangladesh, the only non-test-playing team ion the fray, will play two warm-up matches against Sri Lanka President's Eleven on July 9 and 11.

The sixth version of Asian meet will mark the fifth appearance of the minnows. But in a changed circumstance, the latest visit will certainly be a very significant one for the ICC Trophy champions, who have just been awarded the one-day international (ODI) status by the world cricket's ruling body. With the Test status in the reckoning, Bangladesh will be under the lens of the cricket world.

On the eve of departure of the national team, coach Gordon Greenidge who inspired Bangladesh to claim the ICC Trophy as well as a berth in the 1998 World Cup, was quite sceptical about chances of the country. ``We did not get enough time to prepare ourselves for the big occasion. Our preparation was time and again hampered by the persistent inclement weather. But still we've got some very lively wickets laid by a South African expert at the Dhaka Stadium recently to limber up'', the West Indian coach told a crowded Press conference last night.

``What I can assure you that we will fight with our limited resource till the last ball is bowled. Our approach will always be positive'', said a confident former Caribbean opener. ``Over the last four or five weeks we have tried our best to lift the morale of our boys ... Now it's time to wait and see how they are going to perform in the field'' Greenidge quipped.

Team: Akram Khan (captain), Aminul Islam Bulbul (vice-captain), Minhazul Abedin Nannu, Athar ali Khan, Shahriar Hossain Bidyut, Khaled Masud Pilot, Sheikh Salahuddin, Mofizur Rahman Munna, Enamul Huq Moni, Saiful Islam, Naimur Rahman Durjoy, Hasibul Hossain Shanta, Zakir Hasan and Habibul Bashar Sumon.