Indian fans see Lankans as a threat

Most Indian cricket fans have turned anti-Sri Lanka and wish to see the islanders miss out on a place in the semi finals of the ICC Champions Trophy now moving into its virtual knock-out stages following some upset results.

Indian fans initially threw their weight behind Pakistan and it paid off for them when Sri Lanka lost in a shock result at Ahemadabad and two days later even when Sri Lanka confronted New Zealand the Kiwi bowlers had the crowd behind them in Mumbai."Sri Lanka can be a threat to India and we wan't them to go home after losing", said one Indian fan Ashok Kumar.

Indian supporters have no doubt been stung by the rise of the Sri Lankans who are no longer the team that was routed 6-1 by India in a series last October and the possibility of both teams meeting in either the semi final or final have not being ruled out.

On Tuesday Sri Lanka meets South Africa in their last qualifying match at Ahemadabad and a defeat could only please the Indian crowds more than frustrate Sri Lankan supporters at home.

"They (South Africa) are one of the best teams but hopefully we will play better cricket than them", said Muttiah Muralitharan who now stands out as the leading wicket-taker in the eight-year old ICC Champions Trophy tournament with 22 scalps.

Muralitheran did not wish to be dragged into a debate over spin or pace deciding the trophy for Sri Lanka and merely avoided any controversy. "I don't know what will decide the trophy for Sri Lanka but if you bowl well you will get wickets", he said.Coach Tom Moody gave the only other spinner in the Sri Lanka squad Malinga Bandara a work-out minutes before the New Zealand match on Friday but he still remains a spectator when the matches take place.

The Sri Lankans have another two days to analyse their strengths and weaknessess and map out a strategy for the South Africans who probably escaped a thrashing when they quit a Colombo triangular championship over security fears last August.

"I think we are playing good cricket at the moment and have a good chance of beating South Africa", said Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardena.