London, May 29: Sri Lanka’s cricketers will play together for the first time since surviving the Lahore terror attack in March when they take part in the World Twenty20 tournament in England.

A few top stars took part in the Indian Premier League in South Africa, but the Twenty20 Worlds gives the Sri Lankan team a chance to shine again at the highest level.

"It has not been easy for us to deal with the events of Lahore," said Sangakkara, who took over as captain after good friend Mahela Jayawardena resigned to concentrate on his batting.

"The memories of what happened will last a long time, but with cricket comes a sense of normalcy and that old feeling of going out and doing your job. "The IPL was great because we got a chance to mix with the cricket fraternity. Now we are prepared for the Twenty20 Worlds."

Sangakkara knows his team need to focus fully on the game — and find ways to beat Australia — if they are to do well in the tournament.

The Sri Lankans lost to Australia in the final of the 50-overs-a side World Cup in 2007 and, a few months later, were denied a semi-final place by the same opponents in the inaugural Twenty20 Worlds.

This year, Sri Lanka have been drawn alongside Australia and the West Indies in the preliminary group. —AFP