From Lahore to Lords in three months and 17 days: its not been an easy ride for either of these teams,but between them over the last couple of weeks,Pakistan and Sri Lanka have scripted one of the more dramatic tales in international sport. Their remarkable journey to the final of the World Twenty20 championship is no ordinary achievement. On March 3,the Sri Lankan team bus was attacked by gunmen when they were on their way to the Gadaffi Stadium for a Test match. Six players were wounded,and cricket in Pakistan,for the foreseeable future,was dead. Does one get over something like that? Thirty players have proved that it can be done. Pakistan captain Younis Khan said at the pre-match press conference,Were very close to the Lankan team. I kept getting phone calls then saying take care of them. You cant forget such a thing. For Lanka and also for Pakistanwhere,as Younis keeps pointing out,things are going from bad to worsea win on Sunday will put some smiles back. Ive got a lot of phone calls and people feel weve already won the trophy. Its a big tournament,a big moment for all of us. Inshallah,we will win, Younis said. The Lankan team have been playing some spectacular cricket. At every press conference,captain Kumar Sangakkara has said they were completely focussed on the cricket. We have to move on. Hopefully both the teams will put up a nice spectacle and everyone will enjoy it, he said. The cricket the two teams have played could not have been more different. The Lankans: dominant,consistent and ruthless in a typically polite sort of way; Pakistan: flamboyant but inconsistent. Whats clear though is that the two best bowling units will be out there on the field. Theres a compelling symmetry to their attacks as well: Lasith Malinga and Umar Gul have been crushing toes with big-swinging yorkers; Mendis and Murali have been turning it on,as have Afridi and Ajmal; a young tearaway in Angelo Mathews,a younger one in Mohammad Aamer. But how much of it is really about the cricket? Over the last couple of weeks,there have been teams that have looked betterSouth Africa did on the field,surely,and India did on paper. But,like most things in the world of sport,its probably come down to desire. The two teams that wanted it most will play at Lords on Sunday. And thatnot the runs and wickets,not the fours and sixes,not even the injuries and intrigueis the greatest story of this World Twenty20 championship.
