By Martin Gough

Back with a bump: Kenya must prove their World Cup was no fluke

After a massive build-up, and a two-month tournament, the World Cup is over for another four years and teams are left to begin again.

Compared to the 44-match extravaganza in South Africa, this week's seven-game Sharjah series appears to be insignificant.

But there is still plenty to prove for the four teams involved.

Sri Lanka

The World Cup semi-finalists look, on paper at least, to be favourites but they have been left in limbo after a tournament they set as a long-term goal.

Sri Lanka squad

Captain Sanath Jayasuriya was thwarted in an attempt to resign in order to allow a skipper to be appointed with the 2007 World Cup in mind.

But, three days away from the opening game, the Sri Lankan cricket board announced coach Dav Whatmore would be standing down.

There are at least three players with something to prove.

One or all of batsman Michael Vandort, wicket-keeper Prasanna Jayawardene and spin bowling all-rounder Kaushal Lokuarachchi could be key in four years' time.

Pakistan

Pakistan squad

Who could have predicted that, of the four sides competing here, Pakistan would be the only one not to have featured in the World Cup Super Six?

SHARJAH SCHEDULE Thurs 3 April: Pakistan v Zimbabwe Fri 4: Pakistan v Sri Lanka Sat 5: Kenya v Zimbabwe Sun 6: Kenya v Sri Lanka Mon 7: Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe Tues 8: Kenya v Pakistan Thurs 10: Final All matches begin 1100GMT

Pakistan cricket is a byword for short-termism but the building blocks have already been put in place for 2007 with the demolition of the 2003 team.

Out are veterans Wasim Akram - who was expected to retire anyway - captain Waqar Younis, Saeed Anwar and coach Richard Pybus.

But perhaps more surprisingly, batsman Inzamam-ul Haq and speedster Shoaib Akhtar have also been left out as Javed Miandad regains the coaching role.

The new-look side, under skipper Rashid Latif, must convince a demanding public that their early return home from South Africa was simply a glitch.

Zimbabwe

Helped into the Super Six by England's forfeited match in Harare, there was an end-of-an-era feel to Zimbabwe's World Cup team.

Zimbabwe must learn to live without Flower Zimbabwe squad

Star batsman Andy Flower has quit, while former skipper Alistair Campbell retired after again being deemed surplus to requirements.

All the Zimbabwe selectors have to replace them are bits-and-pieces veterans like Gavin Rennie and a clutch of barely-ready youngsters.

The botched-together side must now prove wrong those prophets of doom who predicted the end for cricket in Zimbabwe, but it will be far from easy.

Thoughts of 2007 are far from the minds of a side that must first for survival from series to series.

Kenya

After their 1996 World Cup upset of the West Indies, Kenya were once again consigned to the international wilderness.

This time around they downed three Test-playing nations en route to the semi-finals but it is now that the real challenge begins.

Only afforded the opportunity to play in this tournament after South Africa pulled out with security worries, Kenya must make the most of it, and prove their World Cup was no fluke.

Kenya squad

But the halcyon light of the showpiece of one-day international cricket will have turned quickly to stark black and white by the time the East Africans play their first match in the desert.

They are already without two World Cup star - opener Ravindu Shah is unavailable while spinner Aasif Karim has slipped back into retirement.

Even coach Sandeep Patil is unavailable after his contract ended. United Arab Emirates boss Abdi Ali has agreed to take the reigns for the week.