Victorious Lankan cricketers will return today

The victorious Sri Lanka cricket team will arrive in the island this morning following a successful series in Bangladesh where they clinched the Tri Nation limited overs tournament in Dhaka.

Sri Lanka's four wicket victory over India in the final of this Tri Nation series has also seen them climb one place to sixth in the International Cricket Council One Day Championship.

However India still maintains its second place position despite losing the match but is down two ratings points since the start of the series, leaving a gap of nine points between itself and table leader Australia. Sri Lanka has displaced Pakistan by a fraction of a point but Pakistan will have the opportunity to climb back up the table with its upcoming one day series against Australia that begins on 22 January.

India has its next one day international outing on 21 February when it will play host to South Africa and will have to wait until then before it can challenge Australia's stranglehold at the top of the table.

The third country involved in the just concluded Tri Nation series, Bangladesh, has lost one ratings point after failing to win any of its matches. (C.D)