September 21 Saturday 2002
Aussies see Sri Lanka as tough challenge

COLOMBO: Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has conceded Sri Lanka could prove to be tough opponents in the semifinals of the ICC Champions Trophy.

"We haven't focused on Sri Lanka yet," Ponting said before his team's departure for neighbouring Maldives for holidays on Friday. The Australians are scheduled to return on Monday.

"But we'll study them in the coming days. They should be favourites as the conditions will suit them better," said Ponting, whose team clashes with the hosts in the second semifinal on September 27. Sri Lanka had beaten Australia in home conditions in the final of a triangular one-day series, also featuring India, in 1999.

Australia qualified for the penultimate round of this event with a thumping nine-wicket victory over minnows Bangladesh in their second and last league match of the three-team group. They had already thrashed New Zealand by 164 runs in their opening match.

"We've worked out this part of the week so that when we play we'll be ready," said Ponting. "We've been playing well, specially during the last few weeks and in strange conditions, too," said Ponting, whose team shared the title with Pakistan following the rain-hit final of a triangular series in Nairobi this month. "We've got a nice little trip planned for a few days and I think the rest should do us good. When we come out we hope we can do our best in the semifinal."

Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie said he had been keenly looking forward to playing against Sri Lanka. "I'm certainly looking forward to the challenge of facing Sri Lanka, but I think it'll be hard to beat them. I'm looking forward to doing nothing in the Maldives ... getting a tan, good swimming. But we've plenty of time to prepare when we get back."

Bangladesh captain Khaled Mashud said his team was still learning to compete with big sides in international cricket. "We played one of the best sides and the team's morale is high for the next game against New Zealand," said Mashud. "We have to play sides like Australia and New Zealand. It'll take time for Bangladesh to come to that level. Most of the boys are young and need to get more matches."