FAMOUS FIVE! World Cup-winning captains (from left) Allan Border, Clive Lloyd, Kapil Dev, Imran Khan and Arjuna Ranatunga, at a promotional, in the city, on Monday. A Telegraph picture

Calcutta: If Umar Gul applied the first blowtorch by saying Pakistan would rip through the Indian top-order, Imran Khan simply upped the ante by predicting a Pakistan-Sri Lanka World Cup final on April 2.

Speaking at a promotional on Monday, Imran, who was joined by former World Cup-winning captains, Clive Lloyd, Kapil Dev, Allan Border and Arjuna Ranatunga, said: “We don’t want a one-sided match… I don’t want Pakistan to win too easily. I predict a Sri Lanka-Pakistan final. Don’t get too upset… As long as it’s a good match and Pakistan wins it will be great...”

Kapil Dev shot down Imran’s ambitious plans by dubbing it as “day dreaming”, but he, too, wanted both teams to put up a good fight to emerge worthy winners.

Former Windies captain Clive Llyod felt both India and Pakistan have talent in abundance, and it would be a cracking semi-final if both the teams play to their potential.

“Hope it’s not another one-sided game. Both the teams have talent in abundance. If they play to their potential I am sure it’s going to be an exciting game,” Lloyd said.

Allan Border, who is in India for the first time before an India-Pakistan match, called the frenzy an “eye-opener”.

“It’s the first time I have been in India when there’s an India-Pakistan match. It’s a big occasion…

“In Australia, we have Australia-England in the Ashes… It’s an iconic series and it is very big as far as we are concerned. Obviously, India-Pakistan is a step up as far as the pressure and interest is concerned. It’s an eye-opener for me,” the former Australian skipper said.

Border backed India to win the semi-final saying that Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s men will be the favourites. But he warned the Men in Blue against a stinging Pakistani bowling attack.

“India will go into the game as favourites, but that will be a slight advantage, I must add… It will be a great Indian batting line-up against a strong Pakistani bowling line-up. Whoever comes on top of that confrontation will win the game. I will support India,” he said.

Even Lloyd said the same adding, “India might have an edge with batting, but in terms of fielding and bowling Pakistan will be slightly ahead.”

As the Windies batting great harped on India’s need to bat Pakistan out in the game, he also stressed on the importance of Sachin Tendulkar to score in the high-profile contest.

“There’s no doubt that Sachin is the batting God. If he scores and India get a good start, I am sure they will post a good total. But there again, India’s bowling is not so strong. So, India may have to bat Pakistan out of the game.”

Lloyd mentioned Yuvraj Singh as another talismanic performer, who has looked virtually unstoppable in the tournament. The all-rounder has bagged four Man of the Match awards, this far, and the former Windies skipper marvelled at his Cup exploits.

“Yuvraj has come of age. I think only a couple of months ago he was probably being called the water boy. But the water boy is now drinking from the fountain.

“I think he has done extremely well and hope he gets back to Test cricket as fluently as he is playing one-day cricket,” Lloyd said.

Kapil identified India’s bowling as “slightly thin” but felt Dhoni must have taken enough precaution to ensure that India don’t leak too many runs against Pakistan on Wednesday.

“Yes, our bowling is a concern… It’s slightly thin… But they must have worked on it to ensure they don’t falter in the semi-final. To have come this far indicates India are working hard and it’s better to keep the negatives away at this stage,” Kapil said.

India’s only World Cup-winning captain doffed his hat to Shahid Afridi for guiding his flock through a turbulent period.

“I have more respect for (Shahid) Afridi for bringing Pakistan to this level,” he said. But the vacuum in his heart got a candid expression when he urged India to win the Cup for the second time.

“I am sitting alone since 1983… I want someone to come and join me,” Kapil said.