This means that any flaws that crop up or game-plan tweaks that need doing take on added significance - essentially, this is the time to perfect your game, there's not much time left for much else. And for Sri Lanka, team composition will likely take precedence.

"We saw in the ODIs that going in with just one allrounder worked. When we play on good wickets we can play like that. The batters have confidence when they know the wicket is good. In T20s also I would very much like to play like that," he said on the eve of the first T20I. "Because I bowl four overs [along with his batting], there is also a line of thinking as to whether we need another bowling option or not.

"So the plan largely depends on the type of wickets we're playing on as well; the plan has to suit that. We need to be thinking about the World Cup coming up when playing these games."

"In terms of bowlers we have quite a few options, so when we come to playing on good tracks - especially T20s - we need to see exactly how to bowl. We've bowled on good wickets before, so I think in T20s it's from the bowlers that you're going to win matches.

"The types of wickets we're going to play on at the World Cup, there's a good chance we'll play on similar wickets during these next six games. With that we'll be aiming to figure out how we can win a game with our combination of bowlers."

With arguably their best format, T20s, now in focus, they're targeting their best performance yet in a major tournament.

"Most of our players are playing in different franchises around the world - we have eight or nine players playing the IPL - so this will help the team. I don't think Afghanistan will be an easy side to face, I think we could be in the top four or five. Every team will think twice before playing Afghanistan in the World Cup."

An area that they will need to improve quickly though is in their fielding. Across the recent ODI series, Afghanistan were guilty of dropping a spate of catches - many of which in hindsight might have been game-defining.

"This is the area that we should work harder in, if you want to beat the stronger sides. It will help the team and give it some nice momentum when you have a strong fielding side. Yes, this is the area that we should be working on a lot. Honestly, we're far behind as a fielding side. But we have time, we will work on it, and we will cover that weakness."