COLOMBO. Oct 9 (Reuters/ Internet report): Sri Lanka. buoyed by recent wins in Test series against Australia and a tri-nation one-day tournament, are confident they can win the forthcoming Sharjah cricket tournament, coach Dav Whatmore said on Friday.

We are playing well and are confident. Pakistan is a little stronger and you cannot underestimate West Indies, especially when you have a player like (Brian) Lara playing,’’ Whatmore told a media confer-

ence.

The three-nation Sharjah tournament runs from October 11 to 23.

Sri Lanka beat Australia 1-0

in a tliree-Test series after winning a one-day tournameni which they staged against Australia and India.

Aravinda de Silva, dropped . for that tournament, was included in the 15-man squad for Sharjah named last Monday.

The selectors felt that we needed some experience in the middle order, that is why Aravinda has been included. ' Whatmore said.

"We may have won more than two matches in the Aiwa Cup if we had another experienced player. Aravinda as we all know is a wonderful player, one of the best in the world. He

Arjuna Ranatunga was not included but Whatmore said he could still play for the team in the future.

"In the last 19 innings Ranatunga has been the main run scorer for Sri Lanka. If the selectors feel his experience against the opposition is required. then ne will play." Whatmore said.

The squad, captained by Sanath Jayasuriya, leaves for Sharjah on Sunday.

The Lankan coach said that Jayasuriya only could get better as a captain with time.

"Sanath had a difficult job to perform and I thought he handled the side pretty well. He hadn't captained the team for some time and to take on the leadership of the national team is never easy.

'To Sanath's credit he performed very well indeed and I think he will get better. One of the reasons why he did well was the support he got from every other player in the squad not just the team. When you have that sort of backing, it makes your Job that much easy.

Jayasuriya (30) replaced Ranatunga for the Aiwa Cup series and got instant success.

Sri Lanka will adopt a more conventional approach to the one-day game than their pinch-hitting tactics, meaning that Romesh Kaluwitharana will no longer be required to open the batting.

"We like to play one day cricket a little bit more cautiously early on with wickets in hand. We've got the players to knock the ball around in the middle overs and take the two's and do a lot of running. It's a fantastic .option to have Romesh around although he won't be opening for us permanently." said Whatmore.

stuck a bit of form in the Test matches and quite rightly earned his spot back in the one-day team".

Sri Lanka's former captain