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By Martin Gough BBC Sport Online

The ICC Champions Trophy is a worthy prize in itself, with a cheque for $525,000 on offer to the winners.

But there is a bigger tournament on the horizon, and all 12 teams will use this trip to get closer to final plans for the World Cup, which begins next February.

BBC Sport Online takes a look at the major issues facing each team as they prepare in Sri Lanka.

New Zealand celebrate victory in 2000
New Zealand are unlikely to repeat as champions

Pool 1

Pool 2

Pool 3

Pool 4

Australia

The overhaul that followed their failure to qualify for last January's VB Series finals at home brought instant success, with a 5-1 victory in South Africa.

They dominated the recent series in Kenya before sharing the title thanks to a rain-ruined final against Pakistan.

Full story: Rain ruins Kenya final

But Ricky Ponting's side have yet to prove that they are more than a collection of form players and that they can justify the exclusion of the Waugh twins.

Bangladesh

The newest Test nation have not recorded a one-day international victory since their 62-run upset of Pakistan in the last World Cup, despite regular matches against the big boys.

Trevor Chappell was sacked as coach after failing to deliver quickly enough.

The Australian did succeed in building a young side, with stars such as batsman Mohammad Ashraful, but only success will bring the confidence they desperately lack.

New Zealand

The Black Caps' adventures in Australia last January highlighted their strengths and weaknesses: a team of containers, their inability to take wickets can cause trouble if batsmen let them down.

With Chris Cairns injured and Craig McMillan at home, their batting is lacking the explosive quality that brought the ICC Knockout crown in Nairobi two years ago.

And Sri Lankan conditions are far from ideal for developing the pace bowling talents of Shane Bond.

England

In the run-up to a packed Australian tour, which includes five Ashes Tests and a 15-match triangular series including Sri Lanka, England are hampered by injuries.

Ian Blackwell
Blackwell gets an England chance because of injury

In late-call-ups like Rikki Clarke and Ian Blackwell there is a final opportunity for young all-rounders to stake their claim for a World Cup spot.

But it is hard to see stars such as Andrew Flintoff and Michael Vaughan being overlooked when they return from injury.

India

Vast experience in the subcontinent counts for little on South Africa's green, pacey tracks

India's explosive batsmen should enjoy this short trip, but a vastly experienced side will learn little from another one-day tournament close to home.

However, Sourav Ganguly's team showed in their final Test against England last weekend that they can ignore the off-field trouble that has dogged the build-up to this tournament.

Full story: Indian stars reach compromise

They will be hot favourites to progress from group two here, but the World Cup will be a different matter.

Zimbabwe

Heath Streak is back at the helm of a side beset by off-field trouble and without match practice since last March.

Their capacity to upset the bigger sides, build since their World Cup debut against Australia in 1983, means Zimbabwe can never be completely ruled out.

But they currently appear to lack any kind of coherent plan ahead of what they hope will be a World Cup in their own back yard.

Kenya

Now too big for their minnows tag, Kenya showed during the recent series in Nairobi that have yet to justify their full one-day international status.

Kenya's batsmen are capable of putting up a fight, thanks in part to new coaching advisor Andy Kirsten, brother of South African opener Gary.

Their bowlers appear to lack the experience to adapt at the highest level, but they can only improve from further exposure.

South Africa

Shaun Pollock's side have left some out-of-form batsmen at home rather than playing them in foreign conditions ahead of the World Cup on their own fast tracks.

Victorious in January's VB Series finals, they realised that Australian revenge can be ruthless when they were beaten 5-1 at home two months later.

Following the failures of their Test side, there is now a new coach in Eric Simons and a new chief of selectors in Omar Henry, but a coherent plan is yet to emerge in a must-win year.

West Indies

Pressure to repeat their feats of old, when they won the first two World Cups, appears to have prevented a young side from finding any consistency.

With time running out before the 2003 version, West Indies have drafted veteran bowler Vasbert Drakes, who has played several years in South African domestic cricket, into the side.

A seven-match one-day series in India next month will offer a better chance to bed in a group of inexperienced all-rounders, who are currently chopped and changed regularly.

Pakistan

A 2-1 one-day series victory in Australia in July and a share of the recent tournament in Nairobi is apparently not enough for Pakistan's selectors.

Waqar Younis
After Nairobi, Waqar's position is under threat

Waqar Younis' captaincy is under pressure, with Abdur Razzaq a suggested successor, so the team's focus will be purely on the short-term.

Fortunately Pakistan have a team capable of adapting to most conditions, with Saqlain Mushtaq back from county duty to take the lead on Sri Lanka's spinning tracks.

Netherlands

Victory in ICC Trophy for associate members gained the Netherlands their second World Cup appearance, and a spot here, although fellow-qualifiers Namibia and Canada have been ignored.

The Dutch have taken part in England's domestic C&G Trophy tournament since 1997, and progressed to the fourth round, defeating first class side Durham in the process, in 1999.

But they have been in woeful form this year, winning just two of five matches of five against second-tier opposition at the recent European Cricket Championships.

Sri Lanka

Selectorial strife followed a troubled tour of England, when Sri Lanka lost two Tests and failed to reach the one-day NatWest Series final.

Despite showing signs at home of returning to their explosive form of the 1996 tournament, they have been found wanting overseas in the past.

And pressing problems such as the need for consistent fast bowling will only be addressed when they tour South Africa later this year.