Saroj Pathirana In Bridgetown, Barbados

	Young cricketers - added vigour to the team

He talked to cricket fans already celebrating the event.

Yasmin Abdul Rahim is on a mission in Barbados.

A lifelong fan of Indian cricket team Yasmin Abdul Rahim is determined not to let ‘arrogant’ Aussies to defeat their tiny neighbour, Sri Lanka, at the Cricket World Cup.

Australia, the favourites according to many pundits, are trying to create a new world record by becoming the first ever team to win three consecutive world titles.

But Yasmin, 60, says the prevailing atmosphere is an advantage for Mahela Jayawardene’s team.

“Yes they are underdogs and I want those underdogs to win,” she told BBC Sandeshaya while travelling from London to Bridgetown.

Her trip to Barbados to witness Sri Lanka ‘cruising to victory’ was her birthday present by her brother-in-law.

It is as if whole sub continent is united against an ‘Australian invasion'.

Yasmin’s comments were echoed by many South Asians arrived for in this beautiful Carribean island.

Davinder Sing was born and grown up in the British capital, London. His parents are from East Africa.

“Australia can’t keep winning every time,” Davinder said.

“Sri Lanka have a very balanced team and they are an exiting team. I am here to support Sri Lanka”

Aussie supporters

Not every Asian cricket fan supports Sri Lanka, though.

	Fast bowler Chaminda Vaas

David Anandakumaraswamy, a young Tamil born to Sri Lankan parents in Malaysia, has later migrated to Perth, Australia.

He says Ricky Ponting’s team will prove once again that they are the number one in the world.

“I have been supporting Australia throughout the World Cup. I never lived in Sri Lanka and you could even guess from my accent that I am not Sri Lankan,” he told bbcsinhala.com.

Yes he sounded Australian but did not look like Australian, though.

Alicia Kave, a local girl in Christ Church near capital, Bridgetown, was also supportive of Australia.

“The best team will win. Australia are the best team at the moment, I think they are going to be the champions”.

However her views are not the view of the majority of the Carribeans I met.

Many, who regret India did not make it to the finals, are in the opinion that Sri Lanka will be the better team at Kensignton Oval on Saturday.

Strange allies

Sri Lanka, have also found strange supporters on its way to a be crowned as World Cup holders.

Gill McDonald, a psychiatrist nurse from London, was critical of the long and ‘disorganised’ tournament in the Caribbean.

But she did not want Australia to be the third consecutive winner.

Many other English fans, who have arrived here long before to witness England qualifying for at least to the semi-final stage were very vocal on their support to Sri Lanka.

“Australians are an arrogant team,” an English fan told the BBC in a restaurant in Bridgetown.

“Sri Lanka has the best bowling attack and I want them to win on Saturday”, he said.