Several members of the country's World Cup winning squad in 1996 believe that Sri Lanka can win the up coming Cricket World Cup in the Caribbean. ‘Sunday Island' spoke to five members of SL's historic 1996 side and all of them felt that Mahela Jayawardene's side has the ability to win the tournament.  

The national cricket team left for the Caribbean on Wednesday and will start their World Cup campaign tomorrow with a warm up game against Scotland at the Three Ws Oval in Barbados, formerly known as Kensington Oval. The newly refurbished stadium will host the grand final as well and the Sri Lankans have the fortune of playing the inaugural game at the venue named after three legends of West Indian cricket - Sir Frank Worrel, Sir Clyde Walcott and Sir Everton Weeks – all born in Barbados.

Sri Lanka's second warm up game will also be at the same venue against New Zealand. The team will fly to Trinidad from Barbados where they will play their Group ‘B' games. The first match is against Bermuda on 15th of March followed by the clash against Bangladesh on 21st of March. The crunch group game against India will be on 23rd of March. All games will be played at Queens Park Oval.

Here are the excerpts of five national heroes who know what it takes to win a World Cup.

Arjuna Ranatunga

On the team's chances

There's a very good chance. I really feel that we've got to do it when Sanath and Murali are around. Sanath won't be there in four years time and I am not too sure whether Murali will around by 2011. This is a strong side and we've got to do it now and we should play with a positive frame of mind. We all should support the team to go all the way and make it this time as it will take years if we miss it now.

The key player for SL

Sanath is the key. He's playing so well at the moment. It's important not to put any additional pressure on him and he should be allowed to play his natural game.

The weak link

From the way we played in India, I thought we hadn't plan enough. We look a very good side when we are winning, but when things go wrong, we seem to panic. That's something that Sri Lanka has to sort out quickly. When things are going our way they are together and everyone is involved, but when things get out of hand, I feel a lot of people put their heads down and it doesn't look good. (See Sunday Island Sportstar for the full interview)

Aravinda de Silva

On the team's chances

We've got a better chance than what we had in 1996. I believe that this side is better than our World Cup winning squad in 1996. When you compare the eras, I feel this team has got a good combination. We didn't have experience in 1996, but this team has. The bowling looks good; the batting has depth and fielding looks sharp. Things are in favour of us and if we don't win this time, it'll take some time to do it. My money is on Sri Lanka.

On the conditions and the combination that SL has chosen The conditions will suit our players and the combination that we are going in with looks good. Our bowling certainly excites me. It's the most experienced bowling outfit in the world and it has got variation, which we lacked in 1996. We are in for an interesting tournament.

The weak link

The only issue with this team is its middle order batting, but Marvan's presence should sort things out. He brings experience and should be able to bat according to the situation.

What about Australia?

Australia is an aging side. There's pressure on most players as they prepare for their last World Cup. They are weak in certain areas. Their bowling is questionable and it is not what it was to years ago. McGrath can probably contain, but the traditional bounce won't be there in the Caribbean. Bret Lee can provide a bit variation, but the rest of the bowling looks very average. Even scores of 275 or 280 can be chased against the Aussies

Pramodaya Wickramasinghe

Who's going to win the World Cup

I feel this is an open tournament. Not just one team, five teams can win the World Cup. Along with Australia, New Zealand, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka can do it. West Indies will be strong as well as they are hosting the tournament. So it's wide open. We are on top and the team that does well on that particular day will win. I don't think there are any clear favourites.

Is this side better than the 1996 World Cup winning squad?

In 1996 our batting was strong. If you analyse, on many occasions, Roshan Mahanama didn't even bat. But when we needed him desperately, he did the job. But I feel that this side has got a good bowling attack.

Any weak points of this side.

Sanath needs to fire top of the order and if he didn't we might struggle. If we lose five wickets with say 100 runs on the board, we might only be able to get to 200 in 50 overs. But in 1996, even after bad starts, we could sort out as the middle order was very strong. We went onto score 250 after poor starts; I wonder whether this side can do that.

Hashan Tillekeratne

How much of a chance has SL got

As Aravinda said, this side is much better than the side that we had in 1996. I totally agree with Aravinda. There's a good mixture of youth and experience. Marvan coming in at number five is crucial and he'll have to shoulder the burden and help the team to get to competitive scores.

Who is the key for SL's success?

Muttiah Muralitharan. Opposition sides fear him and Murali will be 100 percent focussed as well. His enthusiasm is amazing and he'll push others to give their best to the side as well. This is our best chance to win for a long time.

Any negatives

We don't have a good support bowler for Vaasy. I mean a good new ball bowler. All the guys whom they have picked are first change bowlers. Lasith Malinga, Farveez Maharoof, Nuwan Kulasekara and Dilhara Fernando all can do it at first change, but who'll share the new ball? That's a question mark. This is where someone like Nuwan Zoysa should have been considered. He can get quite a bit of bounce and he adds more variety.

Romesh Kaluwitharana

You think SL can do it?

Lot of people feel that Australia will do it, but they are carrying a few injuries. Brett Lee and Andrew Symonds are struggling and I wonder whether Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden will be 100 percent fit. Pakistan have got injury worries too and it's the same with New Zealand. South Africa are good, but they crack under pressure in the big games. We have been injury free and our momentum has been good. I feel we can go all the way. India will be a tough opposition though.

Strong areas

Sanath can change the course of a game in just a matter of few overs. He bats as well as he did ten years ago. Then bowling gives us the edge. In 1996, our bowling attack was inexperienced. Now we have experience and some world class bowlers. Lasith Malinga will be a vital member in the side. He's quick and unorthodox and he'll be tough to face. He's a match winner.

Weak areas

At times, we don't believe in ourselves. In the middle order, we should have someone to have a bit of calming influence. If Russell can do that for us, that'll be a big plus.