Sri Lanka will take on Pakistan in the opening match of the three-nation Sharjah Cup, to be held from April 8 to 17, according to the schedule announced by the Cricketers Benefit Fund Series of Sharjah.
Sri Lanka clinched the Asian Test Title with an emphatic eight-wicket win over Pakistan at Lahore recently.
The Kiwis are also in the hunt for the laurels in the tournament which is likely to be telecast by Taj television, the newly-formed production company of Abdulrehman Bukhatir, the mastermind behind the CBFS.
Sri Lanka and Pakistan had shared the honours last year, with the former taking the ARY Gold Cup in April but conceding the Khaleej Times trophy to Pakistan in October-November.
With India opting out of the events featuring Pakistan, it has been a difficult proposition for CBFS to draw the crowds. India-Pakistan clashes have always been a big draw at Sharjah. The schedule:

April 8: Pakistan v Sri Lanka
April 9: New Zealand v Sri Lanka
April 10: rest day; April 11: New Zealand v Pakistan
April 12: Pakistan v Sri Lanka
April 13: rest day
April 14: New Zealand v Sri Lanka
April 15: New Zealand v Pakistan
April 16: rest day
April 17: Final. Bureau Report