Winner will emulate Windies

LONDON, JUNE 18: Only the West Indies have won cricket's World Cup more than once. On Sunday, either Australia or Pakistan will make hist...

LONDON, JUNE 18: Only the West Indies have won cricket8217;s World Cup more than once. On Sunday, either Australia or Pakistan will make history, becoming only the second nation to twice win the coveted Trophy.

While the Australians understandably took the day off, the Pakistanis, who have the advantage of an extra day8217;s rest coming into the final, were at a serious workout at the nets outside the main Lord8217;s ground.

The Pakistan team was outstanding in its last two matches, the crucial Super Six game against Zimbabwe and in the semifinals against New Zealand.

The Australians, whom they beat in a high scoring affair in the first phase league encounter, will be a tougher opponent, and the Pakistanis know it.

8220;But they had three mentally sapping matches. They are more likely to run into a bad patch,8221; said Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram, trying to rationalise the state of mind of either team.

With their superior bowling strength, Pakistan are a threat to any batting line-up, in any state of mind, and theyknow it.

Shoaib Akhtar, already a cult figure in England for his searing pace and in-swinging yorkers at the death, has easily looked the best bowler in the World Cup. He has made a far more lasting impression than anybody else, Shane Warne included.

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However, his performance has not been without controversy. The Rawalpindi Express, who goes about calling all his teammates darling8217; has been working8217; on the ball, according to Tony Grieg.

The South Africans foxed the Pakistanis by asking for a ball change when batting at the death, claiming they could not sight the ball. A flustered Akhtar was then fodder for the smashing Lance Klusener, who one newspaper claimed, regards defence as an insult to his manhood.

The umpires and match referee have had no complaints, but pundits believe the Pakistanis work on the ball from the start. In England, where the ball does not get rough as easily as it does elsewhere, this working8217; helps in roughing up the ball, which then comes in handy while attempting reverseswing at the death.

One earlier occasion when Pakistan were beaten when a ball was changed at the death was against India on Pakistani soil. At that time, then skipper Saeed Anwar publicly criticised the umpires for having changed the ball.

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The Pakistanis will be closed watched in the final, and not just for their working8217; on the ball. The sell-out final tickets are changing hands for 1000 pounds at Lord8217;s will be like no other in World Cup history, for the supporters of both teams have been, along with the Indians, the most vociferous in this tournament.

RAINS FORECAST: The weather forecast for the morning of the match is not very good. Early showers are predicted over Lord8217;s in the morning, but is expected to clear soon. Bright sunshine has been forecast for the afternoon and evening. In any case there are two reserve days for the final.