The double league One-Day International tri-nation series starts at Sharjah from 8 April, the venue holding the record for hosting (167) one-dayers, more than any other venue in the world. The competition organized by the Cricketers Benefit Fund Series (CBFS), features Pakistan, Sri Lanka and New Zealand. New Zealand steps in to fill the vacuum caused by the surprising withdrawl of India. Earlier India had announced not to participate at non-regular venues like Sharjah, Singapore and Toronto etc. For utter disappointment of cricket fans it was for the fourth time in the past two years that India had refused to play senior level cricket against Pakistan.

Tournament programme
Pakistan takes on Sri Lanka on April 8 to mark the commencement of the triangular day and night tournament. New Zealand meets Sri Lanka on April 10. Pakistan will face the Black Caps on April 12 and again face the Sri Lankans on the next day. Pakistan - New Zealand repeat encounter will be held on April 15. The last match of the double league will be played between Sri Lanka and Black Caps on April 17. The Final for US $ 50,000 prize and series cup will be played on April 20.

History and past performances
The history of One-day International Cricket at Sharjah dates back to April 1984, when the first ever 'Rothman's Asia Cricket Cup' was held at this popular Gulf Venue. It also marked the historic introduction of neutral umpiring in the game at the highest level. Dicky Bird became the first neutral umpire to supervise international matches. Despite a dismal performance in this inaugural tournament, Pakistan has emerged as the most successful team to perform at Sharjah. Pakistan so far has clinched 12 titles in 24 contests since 1986, when they first lifted the coveted Australasia Cup in April 1986 by virtue of the glorious last ball six by maestro Javed Miandad in the final. In fact, Pakistan took the title in six consecutive tournaments held at Sharjah, from 1988-89 to 1992-93.

Pakistan also has the unique distinction to clinch all the three series played at Sharjah from 1999 to April 2000.

Off the remaining 15 titles, six have gone to India, four to West Indies, two each to Sri Lanka and England and one to South Africa.

Again it was at Sharjah that in April 2000, Pakistan broke the jinx of 14 consecutive ODI defeats against South Africa. Pakistan first beat them by 67 runs in the final league match and later on defeated them by 16 runs in the final. The current Pakistan captain Waqar Younis claimed awards for Man of the Final, Man of the Series and Best Bowler of the Series. He claimed 13 wickets in the series.

The teams and prospects

Pakistan
Waqar Younis (Captain) (veteran of 204 one-dayers and 71 tests) leads the Pakistan team. Other members of the squad are Inzamam-ul-Haq (Vice Captain), Saeed Anwar, Imran Farhat, Younis Khan, Abdur Razzaq, Humayun Farhat, Shoaib Malik, Saqlain Mushtaq, Mohammad Sami, Faisal Iqbal, Imran Nazir ,Yasir Arafat ,Kashif Raza and Shahid Afridi, Yawar Saeed (manager), Dale Naylor (physio and trainer).

Pakistan enjoys an enviable record at Sharjah, but after a poor performance in New Zealand, their rating has fallen considerably. Yet the return of Saeed Anwar, Abdur Razzaq, Shahid Afridi and Imran Nazir to their fold has once again enhanced their chances. Once their batting clicks and their bowlers excel, they are expected to live to the happy traditions set by their predecessors in the desert. All hopes are pinned on the performances of Saeed Anwar, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Shahid Afridi and Imran Nazir in batting, with Waqar Younis, Saqlain Mushtaq and Mohammad Sami in bowling. Still Wasim Akram, Moin Khan, Yousuf Youhana and Azhar Mahmood will be badly missed.

Sri Lanka
Sanath Jayasuriya (captain), Marvan Atapattu (vice captain), Romesh Kaluwitharana (Wicket-Keeper), Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Russel Arnold, Kumar Dharmasena, T. M. Dilshan, Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Muralitharan, Indika de Saram, Thilan Samaraweera, Akalanka Ganegama, Nuwan Zoysa and Dilhara Fernando

The Sri Lankan team's morale after their three-nil clean sweep over England in the recent One-day series is soaring high. After losing the test-series the resurgent Sri Lankans convincingly won the first match of the One-day series by five wickets, the second by 66 runs and in the third inflicted the worst ever defeat on England by 10 wickets. Ace spinner Muralitharan claimed seven wickets at an economical cost of 9.85 runs per wicket. Sri Lanka, as such, has a good chance in the tournament.

New Zealand
Craig McMillan (captain), Matthew Bell, Mathew Sinclair, Chris Nevin (wicket keeper), Lou Vincent, Jacob Oram, Chris Harris, Grant Bradburn, Andre Adams, James Franklin, Brooke Walker, Daryl Tuffey, and Kyle Mills

On paper New Zealand's strength appears to be rather weak in the absence of their regular captain Stephen Fleming and other outstanding senior players like Adam Parore, Nathan Astle, Chris Martin, Roger Twose, Daniel Vettori and Chris Cairns. But they have come to the desert with towering spirits after their remarkable success (3-2) in the one-day series and completely out playing Pakistan in the third and final Test match at Hamilton to level the series (1-1). Therefore, their chances and prospects in the tournament should not be under-estimated.

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