ICC Under19 Cricket World Cup Teams & Groups

Sri Lanka Team Profile

But they will need an upturn in recent form if they are to have an impact at an event in which they lost the Super League play-off final against Bangladesh in 2006, when they were the host nation of the competition or to even recapture the glory days of 2000 when they lost the overall final to India.

The team has been preparing for the event following the naming of the provisional squad back in October, with regular practice sessions under the watchful eye of coach Roger Wijesuriya, who played in four Tests and eight ODIs and was appointed in September 2006 after building a strong reputation as a school coach for 14 years.

In the immediate build up to the event in Malaysia, Sri Lanka suffered a 3-2 series defeat to Bangladesh, although slow left armer Sachith Pathirana impressed with 15 wickets in the five games, while quick bowler Denuwan Fernando took 14 wickets. The form with the bat was far less impressive though, with Roshane Silva being the only player to pass 50 for Sri Lanka in the entire series.

And it was the batting which proved to be Sri Lanka's downfall when they suffered heavy defeats at home to India in three ODI matches in July and August 2007, including two by more than 150 runs. The low point came in their third game when they managed to make just 87 all out, although Pathirana was again a star with the ball taking ten wickets in the series.

Other key players for Sri Lanka will be batter Ashan Subasinghe, who has first-class cricket experience, and made an impressive 30* against England's senior team ahead of the ODI series in Sri Lanka in October and Thisara Perera, a veteran of the previous ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup.

The team will finalise its preparations for the event with a triangular series against England and Pakistan prior to travelling to Malaysia.

Irrespective of their performance at the event, it is likely that schools and youth cricket will be overhauled in Sri Lanka after the tournament, as part of Arjuna Ranatunga's review of Sri Lankan cricket in his new role heading the Cricket Board in the country.

It is thought that changes are needed to be made if Sri Lanka are to continue to produce the likes of Jehan Mubarak, Lasith Fernando and Farveez Maharoof who are all veterans of ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup events.