Explosive final in prospect today

On paper Pakistan and Sri Lanka are 'even stevens' and Sunday's Khaleej Times Trophy final is between two wellmatched sides loaded with explosive individuals capable of changing the fortune of the match.

In earlier two league outings the honours have been shared. Sri Lanka outplayed Pakistan in every facet of the game to win the first match by seven wickets.

Pakistan evened the score by winning the second encounter by the identical margin although faced a much stiffer target.

Will it be Sanath Jayasuriya holding aloft the trophy for the second successive time or Waqar Younis leading Pakistan to victory stand for the first time since taking the leadership mantle is anybody's guess?

Pakistan, rightly considered as the most unpredictable side, are good enough to beat the best on their day if perform to their talent. But in recent times the Pakistanis have become chokers specially when competing in the finals.

The Sri Lankans on the other hand are better organized than their more talented rivals and have the psychological edge over Pakistan having beaten them in last April's final.

While Pakistan rely on individuals brilliance for victory the Sri Lankans work as a unit hoping everyone to chip in with useful performances.

Both teams rested their best players for Friday's tie but will be at full strength. Champion off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan will be back to tantalize Pakistani batsmen probably at the expense of Prabath Nissanka. So will be demon pace bowler Wasim Akram and classy Saeed Anwar for Pakistan. All-rounder Azhar Mahmood and off-spinner Shoaib Malik are likely to make way for the two battle-hardened veterans.

As the pitch is expected to be batsman-friendly a high scoring final is predicted.

Pakistan: Waqar Younis (captain), Saeed Anwar, Inzamam-ul- Haq, Yousuf Youhana, Younis Khan, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Akhtar, Abdur Razzaq, Naved Latif, Rashid Latif, Wasim Akram, Shoaib Malik, Azhar Mahmood.

Sri Lanka: Sanath Jayasuriya (captain), Avishka Gunawardena, Marvan Atapattu, Mahela Jayawardena, Russel Arnold, Kumar Sangakkara, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Kumar Dharmasena, Chaminda Vaas, Charith Buddhika, Muttiah Muralitharan, Prabath Nissanka, Dulip Liyanage.