Fast bowler Lasith Malinga (left) and other members of the Sri Lanka cricket team arrive at the Norman Manley International Airport yesterday. - Winston Sill

Head coach of the Sri Lanka cricket team, Graham Ford, said they are expecting a tough battle when his team faces the West Indies in the opening match of the triangular one-day series, which begins on Friday at Sabina Park.

The South African told STAR Sports shortly after Sri Lanka's arrival at the Norman Manley International Airport yesterday, that his team has played good cricket over the past few weeks, and so they are anticipating a very exciting triangular series.

"There are some good capable match winners within the West Indies and so we know that we have to be on top of our game against these two sides," said Ford.

"It is going to be a challenging series for us playing against two very good teams. The West Indies have a wonderful one-day side and we know how good India are," he said.

Ford added: "We played some good cricket in the Champions Trophy, but we are hoping to do better in this tournament and hopefully to be able beat these two other teams, who are extremely talented teams."

Sri Lanka's cricket selectors have made two changes to the the squad which competed in the Champions Trophy in England last week.

Batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan is out with a calf injury suffered in last Thursday's Champions Trophy semi-final defeat to India while all-rounder Thisara Perera was dropped from the 15-member squad.

big player

"Dilshan is a big player for us, but unfortunately he is injured, but we have a number of good backups, and so it's time for one of our reserves to put his hand up and show what he can do," Ford said.

Sri Lankan squad: Angelo Mathews (captain), Dinesh Chandimal (vice-captain), Kusal Janith, Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Lahiru Thirimanne, Jeevan Mendis, Lasith Malinga, Shaminda Eranga, Nuwan Kulasekara, Dilhara Lokuhetti, Rangana Herath, Sachithra Senanayake and Ajantha Mendis.

West Indies squad: Dwayne Bravo (captain), Tino Best, Darren Bravo, Johnson Charles, Christopher Gayle, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Marlon Samuels, Darren Sammy and Devon Smith.

Graham Ford - Winston Sill photos

Sri Lanka cricket team captain Angelo Mathews speaking to reporters on their arrival at the Norman Manley International Airport yesterday.