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'Team form is what matters', says Azhar

India and reigning world champions Sri Lanka will set the ball rolling as they clash in the opening match of the $85,000 Coca-Cola Cup triangular series here tomorrow.

Zimbabwe, the third team in the event being organised by the Cricketers' Benefit Fund Series, landed here today. The Lankan team arrived yesterday, while India's cricketers reached here three days ago.

Both India and Llanka appeared confident and were expecting to do well after their defeats in the just-concluded Wills International Cup in Dhaka. In their one-day encounters so far, India hold a slight edge. Of the 55 matches the teams have played head to head, India have won 28 as opposed to 22 for Sri Lanka. Five matches yielded no result.

It must be mentioned though that in recent times Sri Lanka has had much the better of the exchanges. In Sharjah, however, India has a clear edge with five wins in the six games the two teams have played here. The last time the two teams clashed here was in April 1995, and India won that one by eight wickets with Mohammad Azharuddin being man of the match.

Lankan bowler Muthiah Muralitharan is in the team for this tournament, but has been ruled out for the first few matches owing to shoulder injury. If he proves fit later, the right-arm off-spinner may play on November 13 - if the islanders make it to the finals.

The Indian team, having arrived here first, had almost three days of net practice to acclimatise themselves. Skipper Mohammed Azharuddin expressed confidence about his team putting up a good fight. When he was asked about his own poor form in recent matches, the veteran player said: ''It is not the form of an individual which matters, but that of the team''.

The cynosure of all eyes is master-blaster Sachin Tendulkar, and local people fondly remember his last innings here. During his last outing here, in April, Tendulkar set the desert ablaze with two brilliant centuries in three days, both against the formidable Australians.

The Indian win over the Aussies in the final is still being spoken of here, the most vivid memory being that of Tendulkar launching Shane Warne over the top in a tremendous assault on the leg spinner. In that tournament, Sachin's opening partner Saurav Ganguly had also scored a century, against New Zealand in a preliminary game.

The two scored centuries in successive games against Zimbabwe -- the third team in this triangular contest -- when India toured there recently, and in fact helped India win the first two games off their own bats.

Azharuddin also has a century to his credit in this venue in a match against the Lankans, way back in 1990. Though nobody else in the current India squad has scored a ton here, the batting skills of Rahul Dravid, live-wire Ajay Jadeja and trouble-shooter Robin Singh are believed to be assets in the team's armour.

Wicket-keeper Nayan Mongia, spinner Anil Kumble and left arm spinner Sunil Joshi are also no rabbits with the bat.

India's real worries are with its bowling. Srinath is pacy as always, but that first ball six recently by Philo Wallace remains a nightmare. Ajit Agarkar has been getting wickets, but has proved expensive with his habit of pitching too short -- potentially lethal when bowling to the freescoring Sri Lankans.

Robin Singh, meanwhile, bowls up and down stuff. Thus, it is believed here that India could opt for the more experienced Venkatesh Prasad, instead of Agarkar, in the opening game.

Left arm spinner Sunil Joshi and Anil Kumble the unorthodox leggie have a big role to play in the middle overs, and it is believed that Nikhil Chopra could get a game, perhaps as early as tomorrow.

The Sri Lankans too boast of a very strong lineup, with Ceat Cricketer of the Year Sanath Jayasuriya in crackling form.

Of the present lineup only Roshan Mahanama and Hashan Tillekeratne have scored centuries at this venue before, both against the West Indies in 1995, while Aravinda D'Silva scored one against Pakistan in 1997.

Jayasuriya is keen to join that list, and chances are that he could be partnered by Marvan Atapattu, who has been in fine form of late.

D'Silva has been very consistent and is the highest aggregate scorer for Lanka in matches against India. Arjuna Ranatunga has proved himself to be one of the best captains in the world today, and will also prove a handful both as master tactician and as master batsman, controlling the Indian innings superbly.

The return of Chaminda Vaas and Nuwan Zoysa give teeth to the Lankan opening attack, and could pose problems to the Indian combination of Sachin and Saurav.

Muralitharan's replacement, allrounder Chilan Samaraweera, may also get a chance in the opener.

Dharmasena and Upal Chandana will form the rest of the attack, with D'Silva and Jayasuriya pitching in during the middle overs.

If Romesh Kaluwitharana opens, then Atapattu will bat at three according to Lankan manager Ranjit Fernando.

Three Indian cricketers - Anshuman Gaekwad the current coach, former wicket keeper Naren Tamhane and former all rounder Roger Binny, are the beneficiaries of this tournament.