Three months after extant a deadly terror attack in Pakistan, the Sri Lankan team will return to international cricket at the
T20 world Cup 2009.
Sri Lanka has not played as a team since March 3 - the day gunmen attacked the team convoy en route to a Test in Lahore, killing members of the security detail and injuring players and coaching staff.
"Everyone has recovered after what happened in Lahore," coach Trevor Bayliss said. "We are back to normal. It's good that they've been playing cricket. When we get into the bus, we'll be a bit nervous, I guess."
Sri Lanka will face a difficult task in the tournament, which starts Friday at Lord's, facing Australia and West Indies in the group stage. Only two teams progress to the Super 8 stage.
The top members of the squad did get experience in the Indian Premier League. Captain Kumar Sangakkara and former skipper Mahela Jayawardene (Kings XI Punjab), Sanath Jayasuriya and Lasith Malinga (Mumbai Indians), Tillekeratne Dilshan (Delhi Daredevils) and Muttiah Muralitharan (Chennai Super Kings) all played the bulk of their team's matches.
The team brag many experienced players, complemented with a few young players, such as uncapped all-rounder Isuru Udana, who took 16 wickets in the domestic Twenty20 struggle.
Last year in Toronto, Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan in the final of a Twenty20 event, involving also host Canada and Zimbabwe.
Sri Lanka has fell experienced bowlers Chaminda Vaas and Dilhara Fernando but Lasith Malinga is back in the team, showing in the IPL that he has fully healthier from a knee wound.
Sri Lanka set to go back to worldwide cricket
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