COLOMBO, Nov 1: West Indies captain Carl Hooper Thursday allayed security fears ahead of a rare Test series against Sri Lanaka, saying his team was focussed on playing good cricket.

“If we start worrying about what is going to happen off the field, then we will be starting the tour on a wrong note,” Hooper said after his team’s arrival amid tight security for the first three-Test series against the hosts.

The two teams have played just three matches since Sri Lanka gained Test status in 1982. Sri Lanka hosted the one-off Test in 1993-94 and then toured the West Indies for two Tests three seasons later.

The tourists will play two three-day games against Sri Lanka ‘A’ at Colombo (Nov 3-5) and Matara (Nov 8-10) before the first Test, starting at Galle from Nov 13.

They will then clash with the hosts and Zimbabwe in a triangular one-day series beginning next month.

Doubts were initially raised over this tour following the Sept 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington and the subsequent US reprisals in Afghanistan.

The recent suicide bomb attacks which killed several people in Sri Lanka, preparing for the Dec 5 general elections, exacerbated the security fears.

It was only when Sri Lanka had promised to beef up security for the visitors that the West Indies agreed to go ahead with the tour.

Hooper conceded that his inexperienced team would not find it easy against Sri Lanka.

“This tour is going to be tougher than that of Zimbabwe, but I think we have the players to rise to the occasion,” he said.

The West Indies, who have won just two of their eight Tests this year, hope to solve a series of fitness problems.

Batting superstar Brian Lara, who missed the Zimbabwean tour due to a hamstring injury, was declared fit only at the last moment.

The West Indies’ preparations suffered a blow when Wavell Hinds, who replaced an injured Shivnarine Chanderpaul, had his nose broken by former paceman and current selector, Joel Garner, in a festival game last week.

Hinds will miss the warm-up games, but is expected to join the team before the first Test.

Wicket-keeper Ridley Jacob has just recovered from a finger injury and is short of match practice.

Coach Roger Harper, however, was hopeful that both Lara and Jacob would be able to live up to expectations.

“I feel that Lara will be able to perform close to his best,” he said. “I don’t think the injury will affect Ridley’s performance. I am sure he will give his best once he has committed himself to the tour.”

Squad: Carl Hooper (captain), Ridley Jacobs (vice-captain), Chris Gayle, Daren Ganga, Brian Lara, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Marlon Samuels, Leon Garrick, Neil McGarrell, Dinanath Ramnarine, Colin Stuart, Mervyn Dillon, Marlon Black, Reon King, Pedro Collins.

Manager: Ricky Skerritt. Coach: Roger Harper.—AFP