Afridi, the 19-year-old Pakistani, stunned the cricket world last month when he smashed the Sri Lankan's world record for the fastest century by an incredible 11 deliveries.
Ironically, it was Jayasuriya's own left-arm spin that bore the brunt of the assault as Afridi hammered him for five of his 11 sixes during the 37-ball century in Kenya.
Jayasuriya, whose hundred off 48 balls in Singapore in April was itself considered beyond reach, hopes to hit back when Sri Lanka make their first appearance at this desert venue since becoming world champions.
New Zealand are the third team in the nine-day event where each side plays the other twice before the final on November 15, worth 30,000 dollars to the winners.
The tournament holds special significance for two Australian coaches. It is Dav Whatmore's last for Sri Lanka, and Steve Rixon's first for New Zealand.
Whatmore, who masterminded Sri Lanka's World Cup triumph in March during his two-year term, is due to replace English coach David Lloyd at Lancashire next season.
Rixon, the former New South Wales captain and test wicket-keeper, is the first Australian to coach the Tasman neighbours. He succeeds Glenn Turner who was sacked after the defeat in the World Cup quarter-final to Australia.
Deprived of the traditional India-Pakistan showdown because of India's commitments at home, organisers hope to attract fans by playing up the other two Asian giants.
``Sri Lanka and Pakistan are worth going to miles to watch,'' said an official of the Cricketers Benefit Fund Series (CBFS), organisers of the tournament.
``They are, along with South Africa, the best one-day sides in the world. It should be heady cricket all the way.''
Sri Lanka, who take on New Zealand in Thursday's opener, are looking to avenge their defeat against Pakistan in the recent Nairobi tournament, which South Africa won.
But Wasim Akram's Pakistan come to their favourite hunting ground as the team in form, having beaten arch-rivals India 3-2 at Toronto in September and blanked Zimbabwe 3-0 at home last week.
``We plan to continue the winning streak,'' warned Akram, the only bowler to take 300 wickets in both Test and one-day cricket.
The Kiwis, who go to Pakistan from here for two tests and three one-dayers, have added rookie spinner Paul Wiseman to their 15man squad following injuries to Dipak Patel and Mark Haslam.