Arjuna Ranatunga's World Cup heroes have had a miserable run since being crowned one-day kings in March last year, amidst reports of internal bickering which cost their Australian coach Dav Whatmore his job.
In the past year, the Sri Lankans have tasted success just once _ winning the Singer Cup at home in September _ but have lost multi-nation events in Singapore, Kenya and at this desert venue.
They came to this three-nation 75,000-dollar tournament still recovering from a humiliating tour of New Zealand where they lost both test matches last month and were forced to share the one-day series 1-1.
Whatmore's successor, fellow Australian Bruce Yardley, got a taste of Sri Lankan cricket politics when controversy erupted over the omission of pugnacious left-hander Asanka Gurusinha for both the New Zealand tour and the Sharjah Cup.
Manager Duleep Mendis was stripped of his dual role as chief selector on Sunday, although cricket officials insist that Gurusinha's sacking was not an issue.
They said there was ``a conflict of interest'' in Mendis being both manager and chief selector.
Mendis, a former Test captain, refused to comment and was surprisingly upbeat about Sri Lanka's chances in the tournament.
``We are hoping to turn the wheel of fortune again,'' he said during the 14-man squad's first training session on Tuesday.
``We played badly in New Zealand but the defeats have made the boys even more determined to do well here. I am certain we will bounce back.''
Skipper Ranatunga was equally optimistic. ``The failure of our top batsmen was the main reason for losing to New Zealand, but we will not repeat those mistakes.
``The New Zealand tour is history now, and the boys are pretty keyed up to take on Pakistan and Zimbabwe.''
That task is easier said than done.
Wasim Akram's Pakistan, rated by an Indian computer ranking as the best cricket team in the world, surprised both Australia and the West Indies while winning the world series in January.
Zimbabwe, for long the babes of world cricket, took a giant stride forward this year when they defeated Mike Atherton's England in the one-dayers at home and narrowly missed the final of the triangular series against South Africa and India.
Pakistan will be formidable even without experienced opener Aamer Sohail, serving a one-month ban because of a tiff with cricket board official Majid Khan, and strokeplayer Inzamam-ul-Haq, who was dropped for lack of form.
In Akram and Waqar Younis, who will receive a benefit purse from the organisers during the tournament, Pakistan have a potent strike force which is backed by the deadly spin of Saqlain Mushtaq and Mushtaq Ahmed.
Sri Lanka can take heart from their 7-1 track record against Zimbabwe, but they have lost 43 of their 59 matches against Pakistan -- 11 of them in 16 encounters in Sharjah.
Sri Lanka take on Zimbabwe in Thursday's opener. The two top teams in the double-leg preliminary league will advance to the April 11 final worth 40,000 dollars to the winners.