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Bangalees by nature are fond of appending the word 'first' to any event in order to draw more importance to the occasion. But, in case of the Asian Test Championship, we can be forgiven, for truly the Final at the Bangabandhu is the first ever in over hundred years of Test match history when two countries will play a Test match on a neutral venue.

Although Bangladesh are as yet not a Test-playing country, by a twist of political record, Dhaka has been host to seven previous Test matches. And, more recently, to a bevy of cricket beauties in the form one-day internationals.

Dhaka (then Dacca) did its haalkhaata as a Test venue with the drawn match between Pakistan and India in the winter of 1955. It is now a little over thirty years when the last Test match was played with bowlers running up from the Pavilion and the Paltan ends. The last match in November 1969 between Pakistan and New Zealand was also a tame draw.

In fact, only two Tests were decisive at today's Bangabandhu. One went in favour of the visiting Australians in November 1959, when Pakistan were drubbed by 8 wickets. Earlier, in March 1959, Pakistan recorded their only Test win at Dhaka, defeating West Indies by 41 runs.

But, finalists Sri Lanka may require more than history on their side to counter the brimming confidence of Akram and Company.

Also against Sri Lanka will be the catalogue of head-to-head Test results between the two countries. Since 1981, when Sri Lanka were admitted as full ICC members, Pakistan had won two home series, one in 1981-82 and another in 1985-86 without a single Test loss, before Sri Lanka pounced back with a eight-wicket win at Colombo to level the second 1985-86 three-match series. Pakistan then took the 1991-92 and the 1994-95 series. Sri Lanka finally came of age in the 1995-96 series which they won 2-1. Both Tests in the 1996-97 series ended in draws.

However, the Kerry Packer revolution in the late 1970s and subsequent World Cups have so dominated the game, thanks also to television, that today cricketers are somewhat compelled to approach even a Test match in the spirit of limited-overs matches. Although this may have resulted in wholesale debacles for many teams, West Indies being the latest casualty, such a disposition is a joy for cricket's large following.

The Dhaka crowd would blame neither the Pakistanis nor the Sri Lankans if they just bent a little of their austere Test principles and went out there to entertain what could be described as perhaps the most learned of cricket crowds in the world. And, even if the finalists are hesitant, the bonus points rule will be on the side of the vibrant Dhaka crowd.

Bogged to some extent by the bribery scandal (one can only hope we have heard the last of it), Pakistan arrived for the Final with youthful exuberance amid hardened experience. Wasti is not wasting any time and Akram looks as hungry as ever. Their recent wins against India in India can only act as a booster. Their followers from Khyber Pass to Karachi will be praying that limited success in the longer version does not turn their head. They would prefer their seamers and spinners to find some turn on Dhaka's lively wicket. But, then, the supplication of their opponents would not be any different.

The Sri Lankans will approach the Final perhaps without any added pressure, what with captain Ranatunga and 'magic fingers' Muralitharan not being able to make the team due to injuries. They still have fathoms in their batting that will be led by the new skipper, the ever patient, the least pretentious Aravinda de Silva. In Vaas they have to find a match-winning bowler if the islanders expect to prove the pundits wrong. And many have been the occasion when the know-it-all experts had to eat their hats.

It cannot be denied that India's miserable performance at the Eden Gardens and lack of the killing urge at Colombo will reflect on attendance and interest in the Final. An India-Pakistan match, be it in cricket, hockey or bagaduli, can generate vigorous polarisation all over the sub-continent, often reducing sportsmanship to fanaticism, as some would rightly argue. The abridged crowd at the Bangabandhu will, however, feast on some of the World's greatest and who knows, a great could be born at Dhaka.