Sangakkara okay with not being favourites

Kumar Sangakkara, the Sri Lanka captain, is comfortable with not being counted among the favourites for the Champions Trophy and said it would reduce pressure on them.

"It works in our favour not to be mentioned as favourites because we will be able to operate under the radar and there will not be too much attention given to us," Sangakkara said. "Playing on such a great stage will automatically mean teams will be out to show and highlight what they can do, and it will be all about the handling of pressure."

The favourites include the world's top three ODI sides - South Africa, India and defending champions Australia.

However, Sangakkara said form would not be an issue when the teams took to the field. "Everyone in our team is confident, but our recent wins are not going to count for anything," he said. "Everyone here is a professional unit and whether they have played recently or not won't matter because you are always in training and up to the challenge of playing. It is nice to have had a bit of cricket, but the only advantage of that is that we have been competing under pressure."

Sri Lanka, who finished runners-up at the World Twenty20 in June this year, are currently ranked fifth in ODIs, and with the good mix of fast bowlers and spinners in the squad, Sangakkara was optimistic about their chances in the tournament. "Fast bowling is now one of our main strengths," he said. "We now have bowlers who can bowl at more than 140 km/h and they have the accuracy and firepower. Coupled with our spinners, Ajantha Mendis and Muttiah Muralitharan, it's an exciting time for Sri Lankan cricket."

Sri Lanka will face hosts South Africa, England and New Zealand in Group B of the tournament. Their first match, also the tournament opener, will be against South Africa in Centurion on September 22.