'Pakistan can win the finals' - Lara

Brian Lara:'I don't think the final is going to be one-sided' © Getty Images

After West Indies failed to qualify in the VB Series finals, Brian Lara, their captain, felt that Pakistan have the firepower to beat Australia in the best-of-three finals beginning on Friday at Melbourne.

Pakistan overcame West Indies by 30 runs in the crucial league game at Perth to seal a spot in the finals with Yousuf Youhana, who made his first century of the series, and Inzamam-ul-Haq making vital contributions.

Heading back home, Lara told ABC Sport, "The experience of Inzamam and Youhana and the attacking nature of Shahid Afridi and Abdul Razzaq is very formidable. I think they can chase very well. Hopefully if they get the opportunity and put Australia under some pressure they can win this final. I don't think it's going to be one-sided."

However, Lara warned, "Australia, of course, are favourites, and whenever they go onto the field they have eleven matchwinners and they can put the game beyond you at the halfway stage, but hopefully Pakistan can make a good series of it in the final."

Lara went on to praise Pakistan's splendid performance against Australia in their penultimate match of the series, when they hunted down a daunting target of 266. "I thought they played really well on Sunday against Australia," Lara said. "Australia seemed to have a bit of a problem getting their batting together, and lost many wickets."

West Indies were also on course to overcome a stiff target of 308 when they were 3 for 194 in the 33rd over. But the loss of three quick wickets for nine runs ended their hopes and they eventually folded for 277 and were forced out of the tournament.