Earlier this year, the Sri Lanka cricket team's bus was shot at by terrorists in Pakistan as they travelled to a stadium to play Pakistan in a Test match.
Several Sri Lankan players were shot but none were killed. The bus driver was shot dead.
Since that incident, Pakistan has been banned from hosting international cricket matches, a devastating blow in a country where cricket is a religion.
But it seems fitting that, in the first major cricket tournament since that terrorist attack, Sri Lanka and Pakistan should meet in the Final.
The match the teams were due to play that day was a normal Test match, but this tournament was for the shortest, and newest, version of the game, with each team having just one batting and bowling innings each, and a maximum of 20 overs to be bowled.
The teams played each other at Lord's in London in glorious sunshine.
Sri Lanka batted first and made a disastrous start and were, in no time, on a pathetic 2-2.
But they soon recovered, posting a total of 138-6.
Pakistan only just scored the 139 runs they needed for victory, wrapping it up with just 8 balls remaining, for an 8 wicket win.
Pakistan, who were beaten by India in the 2007 World Twenty20 Final in South Africa, said they wanted to win this tournament for Bob Woolmer, their English coach who died during the 2006 World Cup.
They went all the way.
World Twenty20, Final
VS
Pakistan: 139-2
Sri Lanka: 138-6
Pakistan win by 8 wickets
At Lord's, London
**************************************************************
Pakistan: Kamran Akmal (W), Hasan, Shoaib Malik, Khan (C), Shahid Afridi, Misbah, Fawad Alam, Razzaq, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Aamer
Sri Lanka: Jayasuriya, Dilshan, Sangakkara (C/W), M Jayawardene, Silva, Mubarak, Mathews, Udana, Malinga, Muralitharan, Mendis
Afridi - the hero against South Africa, and again in the final
Pakistan won the ICC World Twenty20 in an exciting finish at a noisy Lord's when Sri Lanka's total of 138-6 was overhauled with eight balls remaining.
Shahid Afridi, man of the match in the semi-final, was again the hero, hitting 54 not out from 40 balls to steer Pakistan to an eight-wicket win.
Sri Lanka's star batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan fell in the first over and they were soon 2-2 after choosing to bat.
Kumar Sangakkara's 64 gave them hope but Pakistan paced their chase well.
Sri Lanka had progressed through the tournament smoothly, winning all their matches and relying on the brilliant batting of Dilshan and some superb bowling led by Ajantha Mendis.
But on the grand stage, both their leading players fluffed their lines, and Pakistan ruthlessly seized the initiative.
Pakistan had lost two of their first three matches and needed a win against the Netherlands just to make the last eight. But they turned a corner when thrashing New Zealand - from which point they never looked back.
Pakistan began superbly with the ball at Lord's, and kept it going
They began the final in ideal fashion, with a wicket-maiden from 17-year-old sensation Mohammad Aamer.
It wasn't just any wicket-maiden - a rare event indeed in this format. The fact that the tournament's leading run-scorer Dilshan had been dismissed made Aamer's over extra special.
Dlishan craves deliveries on a good length so he can sweep and drive, but keeping the ball short and straight, Aamer bowled four dot-balls then enticed a top-edged pull to short fine-leg.
20-20 vision: Shahid Afridi played a controlled innings to guide Pakistan to victory in the World Twenty20 over Sri Lanka at Lord's
The wicket seemed to scare Sri Lanka's other batsmen, who had not enjoyed particularly good tournaments, and it was the fast-medium bowler Abdul Razzaq who reaped the rewards.
Jehan Mubarak, promoted up the order, skied a catch into the off-side, Sanath Jayasuriya crashed a six and two fours but then dragged one on, before Mahela Jayawardene edged an attempted late-cut to slip.
Sangakkara and Chamara Silva had a major repair operation on their hands, coming together with the score 32-4 in 5.3 overs. They put on 35 from 36 balls which at least stopped the rot, but the arrival of Umar Gul dented Sri Lanka's renaissance.
Silva mistimed a pull to midwicket and Isuru Udana swished and missed the last two balls of a fine over. It got even better for Pakistan when Afridi bowled Udana to leave the score 70-6 from 13 overs.
It was a great day for Pakistan fans
Finally, some positive running between the wickets from Sangakkara and Angelo Mathews saw nine runs come off a Saeed Ajmal over and then Gul, so brilliant in Pakistan's last three victories, suddenly lost his length and was hammered for 14 in an over.
Mathews played his part too, clubbing a couple of boundaries on the on-side before tucking into the final over, bowled by Aamer.
The decision to give the teenager the final over looked a questionable one, and with Mathews flaying a boundary through the slips and muscling a six through the on-side 17 more precious runs came Sri Lanka's way.
Kumar Sangakkara holds Sri Lanka's innings together with an unbeaten 64 to guide his side to 138 for six at Lord's
Pakistan's chase was given impetus by Kamran Akmal, who hit big leg-side sixes off both Mendis and Mathews to take his team to a very respectable 48-0 from seven overs.
Jayasuriya, Sri Lanka's sixth bowler, then immediately had Akmal stumped, but the other opener Shahzaib Hasan, who had been so quiet, drilled consecutive boundaries off Mendis, the mystery spinner who Pakistan were playing so well.
When he fell to Muttiah Muralitharan, the required rate hit eight an over, but Pakistan still had eight wickets in hand and just 64 more runs were required.
Afridi, who had had time to play himself in, now hit Muralitharan into the Tavern Stand and then launched him over wide mid-off for four.
That made Pakistan hot favourites, but just 16 runs came off the next three overs, so 26 were still wanted from 18 balls.
But Afridi, with Shoaib Malik playing a quiet role in support, now smashed Udana for six over midwicket and pulled him past fine-leg for four more, leaving an easy seven runs needed from the last two overs.
Prime Numbers
22 - Number of dot balls Pakistan bowled in the first six overs.
53 for 1 - Sri Lanka's average score in the Powerplay overs, before this match. Here, they were reduced to 34 for 4 after six.
129 - The number of runs Shahid Afridi has scored in his last three innings, since moving up to No.3, at a strike rate of 148.27. This run also includes his first two half-centuries in Twenty20 internationals, in successive games.
13 - The number of wickets for Umar Gul in the tournament, exactly as many as in the 2007 edition. In 2007 he averaged 11.92 at an economy rate of 5.60. Here his average was 12.15 at an economy rate of 6.44.
<64 - Kumar Sangakkara's score, his second half-century and his highest score in Twenty20 internationals.
3 for 20 - Abdul Razzaq's bowling figures, his best in Twenty20 internationals, and his second three-wicket haul in six matches.
Blue sky thinking: Lord's provided the perfect conditions for the World Twenty20 final
All smiles: Pakistan were roared on to victory by their vocal supporters
Hair raising: Sri Lanka's colourful fans offered vocal support to their side throughout
False dawn: Sri Lanka's fans were full of pre-match optimism
The one they wanted: Pakistan dismissed in-form Tillakaratne Dilshan for no score to suggest it was going to be their day
Safe pair of hands: Shahzaib Hasan takes the prize wicket of Dilshan as Pakistan enjoyed a fine opening in the field
Don't look back: Sanath Jayasuriya examines the damage after he lost his wicket with Sri Lanka on just 26 in a nightmare of a start
Main man: Sri Lankan batsman Kumar Sangakkara hit an unbeaten 64 off 52 deliveries to haul his side to a credible score of 138 after a terrible start
Fighting spirit: Angelo Mathews helped Sri Lanka to a strong finish but the total proved too small to defend against Pakistan
Big hitter: Pakistan opener Kamran Akmal hit 37 off 28 balls to set them on their way to victory over Sri Lanka at Lord's
Steady head: Kamran Akmal played a controlled innings at the top of the order to settle any Pakistan nerves
Up and away: Shahzaib Hasan skies one in the Lord's sunshine
The hard slog: Shahid Afridi powered Pakistan home, top scoring on 54 off 40 balls
Helping hand: Shoaib Malik proved an able partner for Shahid Afridi as the pair eased Pakistan home to victory over Sri Lanka
Howzaaat!! Shahid Afaridi cuts loose after Pakistan's victory over Sri Lanka was confirmed with eight balls to spare
news.bbc.co.uk/sport
Several Sri Lankan players were shot but none were killed. The bus driver was shot dead.
Since that incident, Pakistan has been banned from hosting international cricket matches, a devastating blow in a country where cricket is a religion.
But it seems fitting that, in the first major cricket tournament since that terrorist attack, Sri Lanka and Pakistan should meet in the Final.
The match the teams were due to play that day was a normal Test match, but this tournament was for the shortest, and newest, version of the game, with each team having just one batting and bowling innings each, and a maximum of 20 overs to be bowled.
The teams played each other at Lord's in London in glorious sunshine.
Sri Lanka batted first and made a disastrous start and were, in no time, on a pathetic 2-2.
But they soon recovered, posting a total of 138-6.
Pakistan only just scored the 139 runs they needed for victory, wrapping it up with just 8 balls remaining, for an 8 wicket win.
Pakistan, who were beaten by India in the 2007 World Twenty20 Final in South Africa, said they wanted to win this tournament for Bob Woolmer, their English coach who died during the 2006 World Cup.
They went all the way.
World Twenty20, Final
Pakistan: 139-2
Sri Lanka: 138-6
Pakistan win by 8 wickets
At Lord's, London
**************************************************************
Pakistan: Kamran Akmal (W), Hasan, Shoaib Malik, Khan (C), Shahid Afridi, Misbah, Fawad Alam, Razzaq, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, Aamer
Sri Lanka: Jayasuriya, Dilshan, Sangakkara (C/W), M Jayawardene, Silva, Mubarak, Mathews, Udana, Malinga, Muralitharan, Mendis
Afridi - the hero against South Africa, and again in the final
Pakistan won the ICC World Twenty20 in an exciting finish at a noisy Lord's when Sri Lanka's total of 138-6 was overhauled with eight balls remaining.
Shahid Afridi, man of the match in the semi-final, was again the hero, hitting 54 not out from 40 balls to steer Pakistan to an eight-wicket win.
Sri Lanka's star batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan fell in the first over and they were soon 2-2 after choosing to bat.
Kumar Sangakkara's 64 gave them hope but Pakistan paced their chase well.
Sri Lanka had progressed through the tournament smoothly, winning all their matches and relying on the brilliant batting of Dilshan and some superb bowling led by Ajantha Mendis.
But on the grand stage, both their leading players fluffed their lines, and Pakistan ruthlessly seized the initiative.
Pakistan had lost two of their first three matches and needed a win against the Netherlands just to make the last eight. But they turned a corner when thrashing New Zealand - from which point they never looked back.
Pakistan began superbly with the ball at Lord's, and kept it going
They began the final in ideal fashion, with a wicket-maiden from 17-year-old sensation Mohammad Aamer.
It wasn't just any wicket-maiden - a rare event indeed in this format. The fact that the tournament's leading run-scorer Dilshan had been dismissed made Aamer's over extra special.
Dlishan craves deliveries on a good length so he can sweep and drive, but keeping the ball short and straight, Aamer bowled four dot-balls then enticed a top-edged pull to short fine-leg.
20-20 vision: Shahid Afridi played a controlled innings to guide Pakistan to victory in the World Twenty20 over Sri Lanka at Lord's
The wicket seemed to scare Sri Lanka's other batsmen, who had not enjoyed particularly good tournaments, and it was the fast-medium bowler Abdul Razzaq who reaped the rewards.
Jehan Mubarak, promoted up the order, skied a catch into the off-side, Sanath Jayasuriya crashed a six and two fours but then dragged one on, before Mahela Jayawardene edged an attempted late-cut to slip.
Sangakkara and Chamara Silva had a major repair operation on their hands, coming together with the score 32-4 in 5.3 overs. They put on 35 from 36 balls which at least stopped the rot, but the arrival of Umar Gul dented Sri Lanka's renaissance.
Silva mistimed a pull to midwicket and Isuru Udana swished and missed the last two balls of a fine over. It got even better for Pakistan when Afridi bowled Udana to leave the score 70-6 from 13 overs.
It was a great day for Pakistan fans
Finally, some positive running between the wickets from Sangakkara and Angelo Mathews saw nine runs come off a Saeed Ajmal over and then Gul, so brilliant in Pakistan's last three victories, suddenly lost his length and was hammered for 14 in an over.
Mathews played his part too, clubbing a couple of boundaries on the on-side before tucking into the final over, bowled by Aamer.
The decision to give the teenager the final over looked a questionable one, and with Mathews flaying a boundary through the slips and muscling a six through the on-side 17 more precious runs came Sri Lanka's way.
Kumar Sangakkara holds Sri Lanka's innings together with an unbeaten 64 to guide his side to 138 for six at Lord's
Pakistan's chase was given impetus by Kamran Akmal, who hit big leg-side sixes off both Mendis and Mathews to take his team to a very respectable 48-0 from seven overs.
Jayasuriya, Sri Lanka's sixth bowler, then immediately had Akmal stumped, but the other opener Shahzaib Hasan, who had been so quiet, drilled consecutive boundaries off Mendis, the mystery spinner who Pakistan were playing so well.
When he fell to Muttiah Muralitharan, the required rate hit eight an over, but Pakistan still had eight wickets in hand and just 64 more runs were required.
Afridi, who had had time to play himself in, now hit Muralitharan into the Tavern Stand and then launched him over wide mid-off for four.
That made Pakistan hot favourites, but just 16 runs came off the next three overs, so 26 were still wanted from 18 balls.
But Afridi, with Shoaib Malik playing a quiet role in support, now smashed Udana for six over midwicket and pulled him past fine-leg for four more, leaving an easy seven runs needed from the last two overs.
Prime Numbers
22 - Number of dot balls Pakistan bowled in the first six overs.
53 for 1 - Sri Lanka's average score in the Powerplay overs, before this match. Here, they were reduced to 34 for 4 after six.
129 - The number of runs Shahid Afridi has scored in his last three innings, since moving up to No.3, at a strike rate of 148.27. This run also includes his first two half-centuries in Twenty20 internationals, in successive games.
13 - The number of wickets for Umar Gul in the tournament, exactly as many as in the 2007 edition. In 2007 he averaged 11.92 at an economy rate of 5.60. Here his average was 12.15 at an economy rate of 6.44.
<64 - Kumar Sangakkara's score, his second half-century and his highest score in Twenty20 internationals.
3 for 20 - Abdul Razzaq's bowling figures, his best in Twenty20 internationals, and his second three-wicket haul in six matches.
Blue sky thinking: Lord's provided the perfect conditions for the World Twenty20 final
All smiles: Pakistan were roared on to victory by their vocal supporters
Hair raising: Sri Lanka's colourful fans offered vocal support to their side throughout
False dawn: Sri Lanka's fans were full of pre-match optimism
The one they wanted: Pakistan dismissed in-form Tillakaratne Dilshan for no score to suggest it was going to be their day
Safe pair of hands: Shahzaib Hasan takes the prize wicket of Dilshan as Pakistan enjoyed a fine opening in the field
Don't look back: Sanath Jayasuriya examines the damage after he lost his wicket with Sri Lanka on just 26 in a nightmare of a start
Main man: Sri Lankan batsman Kumar Sangakkara hit an unbeaten 64 off 52 deliveries to haul his side to a credible score of 138 after a terrible start
Fighting spirit: Angelo Mathews helped Sri Lanka to a strong finish but the total proved too small to defend against Pakistan
Big hitter: Pakistan opener Kamran Akmal hit 37 off 28 balls to set them on their way to victory over Sri Lanka at Lord's
Steady head: Kamran Akmal played a controlled innings at the top of the order to settle any Pakistan nerves
Up and away: Shahzaib Hasan skies one in the Lord's sunshine
The hard slog: Shahid Afridi powered Pakistan home, top scoring on 54 off 40 balls
Helping hand: Shoaib Malik proved an able partner for Shahid Afridi as the pair eased Pakistan home to victory over Sri Lanka
Howzaaat!! Shahid Afaridi cuts loose after Pakistan's victory over Sri Lanka was confirmed with eight balls to spare
news.bbc.co.uk/sport
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