It is less than a week to go for the ICC T20 World Cup and the one can already feel the buzz around. The focus of the cricketing fraternity will shift to Sri Lanka where 12 teams will fight for the esteemed trophy. The first match will be played between hosts Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe on Sept. 18.
 
Host Sri Lanka will be quite upbeat about their chances to win the Cup. Sri Lanka have always been a good team and they do have a habit of playing well in major tournaments. Not to forget that Sri Lanka was the finalist in the 2011 World Cup that India won. Sri Lankan players always perform better in world tournaments.
 
India and Pakistan have already won the title and Sri Lanka will be desperate to join their neighbours. It is also a perfect opportunity for the Lankan Tigers as they will be playing in their home conditions in front of the home crowd and that will definitely boost their confidence.
 
Sri Lanka have a good mixture of young and senior players in the team and their team looks well balanced. Sri Lanka have two of the modern batting greats in the form of Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara in their ranks and they will lead the batting charge. Then they have  TM Dilshan who is one of the most dangerous batsmen when it comes to T20 cricket. Dilshan plays really well in the major tournaments and the Sri Lankan team will be relying heavily on him. Then they have Dinesh Chandimal and Lahiru Thirimanne, who are the young faces in the Sri Lankan team. Both these players have already made a name for themselves and will be crucial for the hosts.
 
Sri Lankan team is also blessed with some good all-rounders. Angelo Mathews is one of the best all-rounders going around. Mathews is one of the best finishers and has the ability to take crucial wickets. Sri Lanka have Thisara Perera who has been in tremendous form of late. Perera has the ability to clear any boundaries and is dangerous with the new ball.
 
Lasith Malinga will lead the Sri Lankan bowling attack. He is one of the most lethal bowlers when it comes to bowling in the shortest format of the game. He has a perfect yorker and has got a tremendous slower delivery. Malinga is a genuine game changer in the Lankan side. Nuwan Kulasekara will share the new ball with Malinga. Kulasekara is mighty effective on Sri Lankan pitches and in-dippers can worry any batsmen. In the spin department Sri Lanka have the mystery of Ajantha Mendis and the consistency of Rangana Herath.
 
Sri Lanka Squad:
 
Mahela Jayawardene, Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Shaminda Eranga, Rangana Herath, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Ajantha Mendis, Jeevan Mendis, Dilshan Munaweera, Akila Dananjaya, Thisara Perera, Kumar Sangakkara, Lahiru Thirimanne

By Indian Sports News Network