INTERVIEW - Sangakkara looks beyond "1996 and all that"

By Sanjay Rajan

AHMEDABAD (Reuters) - The 2011 World Cup will offer a golden chance for the current Sri Lanka side to cement their own place in history, according to skipper Kumar Sangakkara.

Sri Lanka defeated Australia in the final in Pakistan in 1996, the last time the 50-over competition was held in the sub-continent, and the next edition in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh has Sangakkara eyeing his country's second title.

"1996 and all of that is history," Sangakkara told Reuters in an interview. "We are proud of that moment but we want to make our own history as well.

"We have a good side, we got a good mix of players and we got a great opportunity in the sub-continent where conditions suit our style of play," added Sangakkara, who succeeded Mahela Jayawardene as skipper this year.

The tournament is to be co-hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh and runs from Feb. 19 to April 2, 2011 with Sri Lanka playing all but one group match at home.

Sri Lanka were finalists at the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean, beaten by Australia who won a third straight title.

Sri Lanka are grouped with Australia, Pakistan, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Canada and Kenya in the first phase of the 2011 tournament.

India, South Africa, England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Ireland and Netherlands form the other half.