All expectations for a grand finale at Sharjah

Pakistan and Sri Lanka meet in the ARY Gold Cup Final at Sharjah today. On current form Pakistan are playing like champions, having won all their four double league matches. On the other hand Sri Lanka were fortunate to enter the final after narrowly edged out the Black Caps on a better run rate of -0.08 against -0.99. However, the two teams had won one match against each other in the competition. Nevertheless one-day final matches, for that matter in any contest, are just one match and any team performing well on the day may excel and win. Both the teams have an excellent track record. Yet it is note worthy that Pakistan has a distinct supremacy over their rivals on the basis of overall results. Out of the 86 ODI's played between the two teams, Pakistan has won 54 matches against 29 victories by the Sri Lankans, of the remaining, one match ended in a tie and the other two in no-result.

Analysis of recent performances:
Further analysis of their recent performance against each other in 2000-2001 reveals that, Pakistan maintains dominance by winning five of the last seven matches played from June 2000 to date. Pakistan convincingly beat Sri Lanka in two matches, including the final of the 'Asia Cup' at Dhaka in June 2000. Only four weeks later fate reversed and Sri Lanka beat Pakistan in both matches of the Singer triangular series during Pakistan's last tour of the Pearl Island, South Africa was the third participant.

In the last encounter last year at Gymkhana Club Ground Nairobi, Pakistan humbled Sri Lanka in the 2nd quarterfinal of the ICC Knock Out Trophy by 9 wickets on October 8, 2000. This was one of their biggest victories against the 1996 World Cup champions.

Performance in current tournament:
In the current tournament Pakistan beat Sri Lanka in the two league matches by 16 and 28 runs respectively. Both Inzamam-ul-Haq and Saeed Anwar have so far consistently performed with supreme confidence. Waqar Younis, Saqlain Mushtaq, Abdur Razzaq, and Shahid Afridi have ably handled the Pakistan bowling. On the other hand, Sri Lankan performance in the tournament has been credited by excellent centuries by skipper Sanath Jayasuriya and Mahela Jayawardene in the first match against the Kiwis and also Muralitharan was unplayable with 3 for 12 off 7.1 overs on the day. He can be unplayable and magical at any time. R Kaluwitharana and Russel Arnold are the other two dangerous batsmen. D Fernando, Chaminda Vaas and Zoysa with Muralitharan form a formidable Sri Lankan attack.

No doubt Pakistan stand a good chance in the Sharjah Final but it may be the Sri Lanka has saved their best performance for the final. Hopefully a very tough, exciting and competitive contest will be played for the coveted title.

Summery ODI's Pakistan V/s Sri Lanka 2000-01 (To Date)