Pakistan seek perfect finish

Out-of-form opener Saim Ayub was sent back to domestic cricket, while Maaz Sadaqat, who was given an opportunity in his place, also failed to impress in the last match against Sri Lanka. Fakhar Zaman has been struggling for form while Babar Azam has failed to convert promising starts into substantial scores in his last four innings.

The middle order, featuring Saad Baig, Hasan Nawaz and Salman Agha, has also lacked consistency. Pakistan T20 captain Sahibzada Farhan is expected to be drafted into the playing XI for the final after replacing Saim in the squad.

Farhan had to make a hurried journey to Lahore from Nepal, where he was participating in a league. Pakistan will face a difficult task in selecting their best combination for the most important match of the series.

The hosts began the tournament impressively, defending 300-plus totals twice before securing a thrilling one-wicket victory over England, thanks to Shadab Khan's maiden century. However, their batting collapse for just 110 against Sri Lanka in the final league match raised serious concerns ahead of the title clash.

Sri Lanka, meanwhile, have looked in excellent form, particularly with the bat. Their top order has consistently delivered, with Pavan Rathnayake scoring two centuries and the top five batsmen making valuable contributions.

Sri Lanka not only chased down a record 430 against England, the second-highest successful run chase in ODI history, but also showed their batting depth on Thursday when they responded strongly while chasing 387 against England in a dead-rubber.

With Sri Lanka's batting unit firing on all cylinders and Pakistan struggling for consistency, the hosts will need a significant improvement with the bat to defend their title hopes and lift the trophy. Pakistan's senior batsman Salman Ali Agha said the team could win the final if they played to their full potential.

"If we play to our strengths, we can win the final comfortably," Salman Friday. He also expressed hope that the top order would deliver on the big occasion. "Our top order is not scoring runs the way it used to three or four years ago.

Tomorrow is the final, and I hope it clicks," the senior batsman said. Salman also endorsed head coach Mike Hesson's view that Pakistan were yet to produce their best performance in the tri-series. "Mike wants a perfect game, and we have not played like that yet.

But I hope we will produce that sort of performance in the final," Salman said. He said Pakistan should have beaten England more comfortably in their previous encounter. "I think all the pitches offered different conditions.

The pitches in Rawalpindi were good for scores of around 325 or more, and we scored and defended those totals. At Lahore against England, when Shadab scored a century, we should have won that match comfortably," Salman said.

He also defended out-of-form teammates Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam, saying both remained among Pakistan's finest one-day players. "Fakhar and Babar are among the best one-day players. They have won so many matches for Pakistan.

Sometimes things do not go your way in cricket, and I think that is what is happening with them," Salman said. He added that maintaining consistency in international cricket was never easy.