Malaysia tri-series is build-up to Champions Trohpy defence: Lara

Bridgetown, Barbados, Sep 7 (UNI) West Indies skipper Brian Lara says the tri-nation ODI series against India and Australia in Malaysia will give his team a chance to regroup as it prepares to defend ICC Champions Trophy title in India next month.

The West Indian team left for Kuala Lumpur yesterday for the seven-match series starting September 12.

''We'll be spending 10 days between the three-nation series and the ICC Champions Trophy together, so we will have some time to fine tune things,'' Lara told CMC Sports.

''The togetherness may take time, but if we are professional, we can do this from day one, so hopefully that will happen,'' he added.

Lara admitted that the competition is likely to be tough in the tri-series but said his side was looking forward to the challenge of taking on two of the best teams in the world.

''We will be coming up against two very good teams, and I think we have to take things in stride. I think the main focus at this time is to defend the ICC Champions Trophy,'' he said.

''We have got four games, maybe five if we reach the final in the three-nation series, but it is all going to be a lead-up to winning the ICC Champions Trophy -- the one major trophy that we have won in recent years,'' he added.

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