Sangakkara hails Sri Lanka unity

London:

Sri Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara believes his team can strike a crucial blow for unity in his troubled homeland at the World Twenty20.

The squad were delayed getting into Nottingham's Trent Bridge ground for their match against Australia this week by pro-Tamil demonstrators protesting against the way Sri Lanka's civil war had been ended.

But Sangakkara was keen to stress how his side represented all sections of the island nation's society.

"I have always said that our team is a representation of a mini Sri Lanka. The entire country is represented and each of them is proud about the game they play and the team that they play for."

Sri Lanka, unbeaten at the tournament so far after wins over Australia and the West Indies, begin their second phase Super Eights programme against Pakistan at Lord's on Friday.

It will be the first time the Asian nations have met since Sri Lanka's team bus was attacked by armed militants in Lahore in March - an incident that led to the suspension of all international cricket in Pakistan.

"Lahore is Lahore and that's in the past and we are here to play a fresh game of cricket," Sangakkara said.