MOHALI, India, Friday (AFP) - World champions Sri Lanka and Pakistan, two of cricket's most versatile one-day teams, promise a keen fare when the Independence Cup finals start here on Saturday.
With hosts India out of the fray, the setting for the first game of the best-of-three finals resembles a marriage party without the bridegroom.
But no one doubts the two best teams in the four-nation tournament organised to celebrate the 50th year of India's independence deserve the honour of contesting the title.
LEAGUE MATCH
The Sri Lankans, who lost their opening league match to Pakistan, lived up to their image as World Cup champions by bouncing back to defeat India and New Zealand.
The Pakistanis, even without three frontline bowlers and star opener Aamer Sohail, showed their tough competitive spirit by beating India in their own backyard to qualify for the finals.
``The Indians may not be there but two of the world's best teams should provide an enthralling spectacle,'' said former Indian cricket board president Inderjit Singh Bindra, who is organising the first final.
``Most of the tickets have already been sold and the rest will go by Saturday afternoon,'' he said. ``It will be a great atmosphere out there.''
RECORD SCORE
The Sri Lankans have their task cut out against a confident Pakistani team inspired by opener Saeed Anwar's world record score of 194 against India.
Sri Lankan bowlers have reason to fear Anwar. Six of the lefthander's 12 one-day centuries have come against them and all at venues outside Pakistan or Sri Lanka.
Anwar is not the only one in the current Pakistani team to have taken hundreds off the Sri Lankans. Skipper Rameez Raja and Salim Malik have three each, Inzamam-ul Haq two and Ijaz Ahmed one.
Moreover, Shahid Afridi hammered one-day cricket's fastest century off 37 balls against the Sri Lankans at Nairobi last year in only his second one-day international.
BATTING DEPTH
Pakistani coach Mushtaq Mohammad said he was counting on his team's batting depth to win the title.
``It will be an ideal farewell present,'' said Mushtaq, who will quit after the tournament over a pay dispute with the Pakistan Cricket Board.
``It is very creditable to come so far in the tournament without the likes of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. But all the good work will be undone if we lose now,'' he said.
Sri Lanka's veteran captain Arjuna Ranatunga expected a tough encounter against a side that has won 44 of their 63 meetings so far, but remained optimistic about his team's chances.
TOUGH TO BEAT
``The Pakistanis have always been tough to beat, but so are we. We have a very good all-round side,'' he said.
``The idea of a best-of-three final, taken from Australia, is a good one because it gives a team a chance to overcome a bad day. Hopefully we will win before the third final.''
Sri Lanka's main concern so far has been the batting in which only opener Sanath Jayasuriya stood out with his 151 not out against India.
Ranatunga and Roshan Mahanama made half-centuries against Pakistan, but master batsman Aravinda De Silva has had a poor run with scores of 33, zero and nine.
NOT CONSISTENT
``The batting has not been consistent,'' Ranatunga conceded. ``But I am confident it will click on the big days. You can't keep some- one like Aravinda down for long.''
The second and third finals are scheduled to be played at the Eden Gardens in Calcutta on Tuesday and Wednesday.