Clouds hover as talented Pakistan take on prepared Lanka

The rains have resumed at Dhaka. With just one match to go in the seventh Asia Cup, the steady pitter patter of raindrops has begun once more, threatening to play spoilsport at what could be an exciting final.

Sri Lanka and Pakistan have been vying for place of favourites ever since the tournament began. Dav Whatmore has put in place systems for everything that happens in the Lankan camp. From training, to practicing to actual on field performance. In the last game, just as Kaushalya Weeraratne walked out to bat, he motioned the youngster to his side. Pointing to the pad that he carries at all times, Whatmore told the lad what to expect out in the middle and where he should attempt to play the ball. At the same time, the Lankans are not all method. Aravinda de Silva wields the willow with as much panache as anyone in the game does. Muthiah Muralitharan is all natural ability. No coach can teach you to spin a ball like that.

Speaking to the press after their loss to Pakistan in the last of the league games, Sanath Jayasuriya was not worried. He was composed and fielded questions without a trace of nerves. The move to promote Aravinda to the top of the order is one that has stumped many cricket pundits. Whether Sri Lanka will persist with the experiment in the final or not remains to be seen. When asked if he expected something special from the experienced players in the big match, Jayasuriya laughed. "I hope someone will play a big knock," he said. Adding quickly "But I can't say that I expect someone to perform and put more pressure on him."

The Pakistanis in their own way have marched into the final. Yousuf Youhana coming off a rum tour of the West Indies continued in a rich vein of form. Chalking up scores of 80, 100 not out and 90 not out, Youhana has become the mainstay of the Pakistan line up. Another player who has furthered people's opinion of him is Imran Nazir. In flashes of what can only be described as gay abandon, he has collared the bowling. Showing no fear or restraint, Imran has the hand eye co-ordination that can destroy a bowling attack in the course of an hour. The list goes on. Saeed Anwar, Inzamam ul Haq, Shahid Afridi, all have to wait for their turn in the limelight. The middle order is packed. Abdur Razzaq, Moin Khan and Azhar Mahmood have all proven time and time again that they are more than useful with a bat in hand. In the bowling department, there is no better exponent of swing bowling than Wasim Akram. To back him up, Pakistan have at their disposal the menacingly quick Mohammed Akram. And if the two Akrams don't get you, Razzaq or Mahmood will.

Ladies and gentlemen, if the rains cease quickly we have a cracker of a match on our hands. Two teams desperate to win will clash head on. Although Pakistan seems to have the edge in terms of talent, Sri Lanka are certainly much better organised. At a time when no one will put money on anything without thinking twice, you have a choice ahead of you. Is your money on method or will you go with talent?