Zimbabwe feel safe

Zimbabwe, shrugging off concerns about possible terrorist violence, flew into Sri Lanka yesterday, expressing satisfaction with security arrangements for their World Cup match against Sri Lanka.

When the team arrived, three hours late from Hyderabad in India, they were treated to the sort of protection normally reserved for visiting heads of state as they were whisked to their seafront hotel. They then went to the Sinhalese Sports Ground, venue of tomorrow's game, and had an hour's fielding practice and nets.

"We are here because we don't believe there will be a problem. Hopefully that will be true," Zimbabwe's captain, Andy Flower, said. "Some of the group were apprehensive about coming at first, but we chatted to the board and they chatted to the people here."

Australia and West Indies refused to play their Cup matches in Sri Lanka after more than 80 people were killed in a bomb attack by suspected rebels in Colombo on 31 January.

Craig McDermott faces a fitness test on a calf muscle strain before Australia announce their team for their belated World Cup start against Kenya on Friday at Visakhapatnam, India.