Bermuda’s first World Cup opponents Sri Lanka were always expected to provide a formidable challenge.

But the former world champions are reportedly rounding into the kind of form which could make them tougher than anyone ever imagined.

The opening Group B clash at the Queen’s Park Oval on Thursday has already been labelled something of a mismatch and former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram, for one, believes Sri Lanka will not only win that game comfortably but could be the surprise package of the entire tournament.

“It’s impossible to predict who will win the World Cup. Certainly Australia appear to be the favourites on paper. But Sri Lanka, as a team, have impressed me the most and I would pick them as the dark horses of the World Cup. They have the capability to surprise anyone,” Akram told journalists over the weekend.

The former left-arm fast bowler, who featured in Pakistan’s 1992 World Cup winning team and also captained them to the final in 1999, said the Sri Lankans boasted a very strong batting line-up and a balanced bowling attack.

“Plus their fielding is of excellent standard. They are a very, very good team,” added Akram who finished with 502 one-day and 414 Test wickets in an illustrious career.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene said the team’s batting was stronger now that it had been for some time, with world class players such as Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumara Sangakkara, Upul Tharanga and Jayawardene all eager to impress once the tournament got underway.

And while the side had often been criticised for the manner in which they suffered middle order collapses, he didn’t expect that to be case in the Caribbean.

“We now have a stronger presence in the middle order. Experienced cricketers like Russel Arnond have been recalled and young Chamara Silva has been in good form,” said Jayawardene.

The young skipper believed the presence of a few World Cup winners in their side — Sri Lanka won the trophy back in 1996 — including Jayasuriya, star spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas, as well as coach Tom Moody, who was part of Australia’s winning squad in 1999, would serve the side well.

“Vaas and Muralitharan have been our spearheads but whether it’s their final World Cup, I am not prepared to state that yet,” he said.

“Jayasuriya has tremendous work ethics and even at his age is among the three fittest members of the side. His commitment and dedication has to be seen to be believed.

“It has come to a stage where we really have begun to take pride in our one-day performance.

“As for Moody, he has taken us out of our comfort zones. A hundred must be followed by another one. It has made everyone push themselves that much harder.” Jayawardene defended the presence of World Cup minnows such as Bermuda, citing the example of Sri Lanka themselves.

“We played our first World Cup 30 years ago, in 1975 and 1979, and that experience helped us a great deal to the extent we won the World Cup in 1996.

“These guys will thus learn. They can improve and who knows in the next 10 to 20 years, one of these associates could go on to win the World Cup.”