The arrival of the Indians coincided with heavy rains in Colombo. Organisers of the tournament fear that if the downpour continues, the first fixture - an exhibition match between the World Cup winning Sri Lankan team and a World XI led by former India skipper Mohammad Azharuddin - might have to be postponed.

The Indian team was greeted with a heavy security net around Colombo International Airport, 27 km from the hotel where all the four teams will stay during the fortnight-long competition.

Army soldiers guarded the route from airport to hotel, checking vehicles at random.

India plays its first game against Sri Lanka on August 28, followed by one against Zimbabwe on September 1 and against Australia on September 5.

Even if the rains stop, the conditions are likely to be humid, extremely so. But the Indian skipper, who has led the team in practise sessions in Madras, the south Indian city that has weather conditions similar to those in Lanka, said this would not be a problem.

``The weather conditions are tough, but having practised here in Madras, we will be ready for Colombo's humidity,'' the Indian skipper said, before boarding the flight for Lanka.