Six policemen and two civilians were killed, and seven Sri Lankan squad members injured, when militants launched a gun and grenade assault on their team bus as they travelled to a Test match in Lahore on March 3.

The incident led to the suspension of international cricket in Pakistan and dire fears for the national side's future.

But Pakistan, who beat favorites South Africa by seven runs in Thursday's semi-final, have bounced back in style at this tournament.

They will face unbeaten Sri Lanka in the final after their Asian rivals thrashed the West Indies by 57 runs at the Oval on Friday.

Despite the events in Lahore, Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara said relations between the two sides had remained friendly.

"What Lahore really brought home to us was we are just the same as anyone else," he said.

"It happens to everyone and it happened to us. I always said it's nice to be reminded of your mortality when the press and everyone else around you builds you up to be a bit more than that in this sporting culture.

"It's great the way the guys have prepared mentally, the way they've shown no fear and just played cricket. It's a fitting reward for that attitude."

Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 19 runs in a Super Eights match earlier at this tournament but Sangakkara said: "We've played Pakistan many times before but in T20 you must take every game in isolation. Different players come into form at different times.

"Hopefully, we can put in a good performance and walk away with a trophy."

The dangerous Shahid Afridi produced a brilliant all-round display in Pakistan's semi-final triumph, scoring 51 and then taking two wickets for 16 runs with his leg-spinners.

"He is a guy who can take the game away in few overs, but we can't just concentrate on him," said Sangakkara.

In Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis, Sangakkara has two star spinners of his own although Pakistan's Saeed Ajmal should not be disregarded.

"Mendis, the way he's bowled in the middle overs had been a charm," Sangakkara said.

"Even Pakistan watch him closely, they know he can get their wickets."

Sri Lanka's semi-final victory was built on a brilliant innings from Tillekaratne Dilshan, the leading scorer at the tournament with 317 runs, who carried his bat for 96 not out in a total of 158 for five.

Then came a sensational first over in the West Indies' reply, which saw seam bowler Angelo Mathews take three wickets as Xavier Marshall, Lendl Simmons and Dwayne Bravo all played on for ducks.

Chris Gayle made 63 not out but none of the West Indies captain's colleagues could stay with the left-handed opener long enough to mount a serious chase as Sri Lanka won with 14 balls to spare.