Pakistan face-off Sri Lanka in the third Paktel Cup 2004 Tri-nation Cricket Tournament at the National Stadium here on Wednesday.
From the look of things, an exciting day's cricket awaits those who are fortunate to make the arena their destination on the morrow.
This scribe having learnt the art of reading playing tracks from the world's greatest medium pacer Sarfraz Nawaz in his halcyon days, and having paid a visit to ground on Tuesday, expects it to be a perfect pitch for a One-day international.
Nonetheless, there could be an element of surprise early in the morning as to how it would behave, not knowing how much water had soaked in under the top part of the strip after the three days of rain in the city. But local curator Ahsan Arain was in sync me in my reading of the situation.
So much for that, Pakistan skipper Inzamamul Haq confirmed after net practice while taking to sports journalist, that he is fully fit after his recent groin injury to return to lead the team.
But wicketkeeper Moin Khan is the only member of the 15-man squad who would miss out in this tussle as he still suffering from influenza Man-of the-Match Younis Khan who had deputised for Moin in the last match played at Peshawar where Pakistan overpowered Zimbabwe, the third side in the contest, is once again going to be seen in the same role.
Pakistan's English coach Bob Woolmer stated: "This is only a stop-gap arrangement as Moin is his first choice keeper." Woolmer added; "I expect it to be a pretty good game where both teams should give it their best shot."
In a way, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are former world champions in the limited-overs version of the game and both countries pride themselves in putting in their best whenever they clash. So in some ways, the only winner could this wonderful game of cricket.
Sri Lankan captain Marvan Atapattu stated: "Our first priority is to qualify for the final and after that we could go on from there as reigning Asian Champions. Atapattu added: "We cannot take Zimbabwe lightly as they have a fine One-day unit as can be assumed from their performance in the two game against Pakistan."
"Despite, today being a working day, a capacity crowd is more than likely to turn out,' said the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) supremo Shaharyar Khan.
TEAMS FROM (PAKISTAN): Inzamamul Haq, (Captain), Yousuf Youhana, Misbahul Haq, Yasir Hameed, Salman Butt, Bazid Khan, Shoaib Malik, Younus Khan, Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq, Muhammad Sami, Shoaib Akhtar, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Moin Khan and Rao Iftikhar Anjum.
SRI LANKA: Marvan Atapattu (Captain), Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Chaminda Vass, Upul Chandana, Saman Jayantha, Farveez Mahroof, Nuwan Zoysa, Avishka Gunawardene, Dilhara Fernando, Kaushal Lokuaracchchi, Thilina Kanadamby and Rangana Herath.