Pak will bank on form to carry them through

Pakistan is the only unbeaten team in the series with 16 points from three victories – two against Zimbabwe (four points) and one against Sri Lanka (10 points). The final will be held October 16.

“Our final is also against Sri Lanka and the win will give our players confidence that we have won two league games against this team,” Inzamam said.

Pakistan’s regular wicketkeeper Moin Khan has recovered from influenza after missing two matches and Inzamam gave strong indications that Moin will rejoin the side.

Younis Khan kept wicket in the absence of Moin, but Inzamam said he would prefer to play with his regular wicketkeeper.

“Younis Khan has given us an edge and it’s good for the team, but only in such cases when our regular wicketkeeper is injured,” Inzamam said.

Sri Lanka did not play any practice games ahead of the triangular series, and Pakistan hammered the islanders by eight wickets at Karachi in the opening match last week.

Sri Lanka defeated Zimbabwe by seven wickets in Rawalpindi before the second game between the two was washed out.

Coach John Dyson said it was important for his team to get tune up for Saturday’s day-night final.

“On the 14th it’ll be just another game because the main game is the final on Saturday night,” he said. “But it’s important because we’ve only played two games and the tune up is very important on this ground.

Sri Lanka failed to capitalise on Sanath Jayasuriya and captain Marvan Atapattu’s century stand at Karachi against Pakistan and was restricted to 232-9.

“I think we recognise that we had a very good start in the first match against Pakistan but let’s give them the credit they bowled well and we did not bat well.”

Dyson, who predicted Pakistan as favourites for the title before the series began, believed that his team needed to lift itself in all the departments of the game in the remaining two matches.

“I have always said Pakistan are a very dangerous team, they are a tremendous batch of layers and now with two games against them we need to lift ourselves.”