Sri Lanka set out on Champions Trophy trail

COLOMBO, Sep 30 (Reuters) Sri Lanka left for the Champions Trophy in India today with captain Mahela Jayawardene urging his players to quickly rediscover their hunger for winning.

Jayawardene said Sri Lanka were in good shape after three weeks of intensive training and looking forward with confidence to the 12-team mini-World Cup.

He told reporters: ''In the last few months our guys had a deep hunger to win matches and that was a crucial reason why we have enjoyed some success recently.'' Sri Lanka, who thrashed England 5-0 away three months ago, are boosted by the return of ex-captain Marvan Atapattu who had back surgery in May.

Jayawardene said: ''He has been doing every fielding drill that the other guys have been doing and has had no ill-effect.'' His team starts the four-week tournament with a qualifying match next Saturday against Bangladesh who surprisingly beat the Lankans in a one-dayer in February though lost the series 2-1.

REUTERS AB VC1805