CALCUTTA, May 26: Now that it has been effectively established that we indeed are very good hosts and that even our cricketers agree whole-heartedly with the new Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral's policies towards our neighbouring countries, it's time we change that age-old ad line. It should read: Owner's envy, neighbour's pride.

So, as our Independence Cup moves into the final rounds, let's just sit back and ogle at the brute power of Sri Lankan batting and hope for a re-emergence of the fabled Pakistani willpower. For, these are the two factors which probably will decide the outcome of the second final to be played at the magnificent Eden Gardens on Tuesday evening.

Of course, the apologetic Calcuttans will line up their sympathy with the Islanders. The behaviour during the Wills World Cup semi-final still hurts the common man here. They are sorry and they will show it to the world with a huge banner during the match. But, deep inside their heart, even the fans here would like a Pakistan triumph tomorrow, for the simple reason of extending the party by another day. The third final, if it is played, will have free entry for those who paid for the second.

While the bookies here are skeptical to Pakistan's chances, no one is ready to write off Rameez Raja's team. So what if they are missing their world-class bowlers Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Mushtaq Ahmed? So what if Aamir Sohail is shooting more with his mouth when he should have been here doing the same with his bat? So what if Inzamam-ul-Haq is doubtful for the match with a hairline fracture in his left thumb? So what if they had to call for a reinforcement (off-spinner Arshad Khan) in place of the injured Abdul Razzaq? Mere physical absence and disabilities have never hampered Pakistan. It is one side in world cricket which firmly believes the game is played more in the mind.

It won't be a surprise if Pakistan does a Phoenix act tomorrow. They may be down after losing the first final at Mohali by 115 runs, but they certainly are not out. A betting man would save some money for Pakistan whatever the odds be at the moment, and a cricketing man would give them more than half a chance to come roaring back in this best-of-three final.

Record books at the Eden suggests Pakistan should wrap it up here. They have won all three matches they have played here, while the Lankans have won two out of four. One man Pakistan will definitely look up to is Salim Malik. His unbeaten 72-run knock in 40 odd balls against India in 1987 is still etched in the memory of fans here. After Krish Srikkanth's 123 gave India a fighting total of 237 in 40 overs, Pakistan were all but gone when Malik came out with all guns blazing.

Apart from Malik, Raja will hope that Saeed Anwar gets going the way he did at Chennai. Shahid Afridi, too, has developed a taste for the Lankan bowling especially after belting them for a world-record hundred in just 37 balls. But he is rather inconsistent. And when it comes to bowling, Aaqib Javed and Saqlain Mushtaq will have to burden all responsibility.

All this goes for a toss if Mr Sanath Jayasuriya decides he wants to rush back to Matara in a jiffy. Celebrations then are on the field itself as his cracker-like shots make all the din on the billboards lining the fence.

With scores like 151 (vs India) and 96 (at Mohali in first final) in the tournament, and his ability to give a flying start, Jayasuriya will be the main threat. But even if he gets out early, such is the batting depth of the Lankans, they still can run up a decent score. Marvan Atapattu, Jayasuriya's new opening partner, has developed into a fine batsman in recent times. He gives a sense of sanity to the sheer chaos when Jayasuriya is on rampage. Roshan Mahanama and Hashan Tillekeratne are two others who can stabilise if the boat starts rocking.

But for that to happen, Pakistan will have to get through Aravinda de Silva and skipper Arjuna Ranatunga the shortened version of the game. Both are in ominous form as they showed in Mohali.

Lankan bowling is the worrisome factor with paceman Chaminda Vaas looking doubtful for this match as well. He will have a fitness test prior to the match for his strained back.

Rain forecast: The met station here suggest the possibility of light rain in the evening, accompanied by a small storm. This has been a pattern in Calcutta for the last couple of days.

Keeping this in view, the toss becomes vital as both teams would like to bat first for two reasons: one, to ward off the possibility of chasing revised, stiffer targets, and, two, to utilise the dry, faster outfield.

THE TEAMS Pakistan (from): Rameez Raja (captain), Saeed Anwar, Shahid Afridi, Ijaz Ahmed, Salim Malik, Moin Khan, Aaqib Javed, Azhar Mehmood, Saqlain Mushtaq, Mohammed Hussain, Mohammed Wasim, Hasan Raza, Arshad Khan, Abdul Razzaq and Inzamam-ul-Haq

Sri Lanka (from): Arjuna Ranatunga (captain), Aravinda de Silva, Sanath Jayasuriya, Marvan Atapattu, Roshan Mahanama, Hashan Tillekeratne, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Chaminda Vaas, Sanjeewa de Silva, Muttiah Muralitharan, Kumara Dharmasena, Ruwan Kalpage, Upula Chandana and Duleep Liyanage

Umpires: Steve Dunne (New Zealand) and David Orchard (South Africa)Third umpire: SK Bansal (India)

Time of play: 4:00 pm to 7:30 pm; 8:15 pm to 11:45 pm

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.