The ICC World Twenty20 final will be an emotional affair for it will be played between two teams who had a traumatic time in Lahore just over three months back.
The Sri Lankan team bus was attacked by terrorists at a roundabout near the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore and it was only good fortune that saw no player get killed.
The man who had then scored two consecutive double centuries in that series, Thilan Samaraweera was badly injured but again fortunately he will be able to resume his cricketing career. But that injury ruled him out of this competition. The Lankans would want to win it for him and try and erase somewhat the memory of that dark morning.
For Pakistan too it will be an emotional match because after that dastardly attack they have become just 'away' players since no team wants to come and play in Pakistan, so every international after that has been played at a neutral venue for them.
To get in the final after they had been written off after their loss in the first game of the tournament will feel good and they will be also charged up to make up for that agonizingly close loss to India in the final of the previous Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa two years ago. They know that most teams will not want to visit their country for an unspecified period of time and so they will look to make the most of this and show that they don't need to play at home to win trophies.
Like India and Sri Lanka they will have vociferous support from their fans who will gather and make it a noisy evening which will no doubt make the old fossils at Lords' quake and shake their grey heads in disapproval. Hopefully for the final at least the pavilion at Lord's will be full for it has been clear from the empty seats there that the members do not think much of the latest format of the game. It may have taken the cricketing world by storm but as it happens with the establishment it takes some time before enlightenment drops in and only later will they realize what they have missed.
It is hard to choose between the two teams who have made progress to the final. The Lankans have been unbeaten coming into the final while the Pakistanis have picked themselves up after the initial disappointment and are looking very good indeed. If Lanka have Dilshan a batsman in terrific form the Pakistanis have Afridi who has batted responsibly and has thus made the most of his potential. If the Lankans have the three Ms - Muralidharan, Mendis and Malinga for restricting the oppositions scoring, the Pakistanis have Umar Gul and Afridi and Ajmal for variety.
Let's hope the weather doesn't interfere for it promises to be a thriller in store.
