Cricket World Cup final 2011 preparations - in pictures

MS Dhoni, India's captain, and Kumar Sangakkara, his Sri Lanka counterpart, pose with the ICC World Cup Photograph: Tom Shaw/Getty Images

Senior police officials inspect the security arrangements at the Wankhede stadium ahead of the final Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters

Police officers keep guard at the Wankhede stadium a day ahead of the final Photograph: Saurabh Das/AP

Indian police commandos stand in a queue in front of an advertisement hoarding with a picture of India's Harbhajan Singh at The Wankhede Stadium Photograph: Manan Vatsyayana/AFP/Getty Images

An Indian boy stands with a poster depicting India's Sachin Tendulkar in the holy Ganges River as Hindu priests and cricket fans perform rituals for the Indian team in Allahabad, India Photograph: Rajesh Kumar Singh/AP

Indian cricket fans perform rituals during a prayer ceremony for the victory of their team at a temple in Ahmadabad Photograph: Ajit Solanki/AP

School children wearing paper masks of Indian cricketers cheer for the victory of their heroes Photograph: Pawan Kumar/Reuters

Indian artists paint and create a replica of the World Cup trophy on the head of a fan Photograph: Rafiq Maqbool/AP

A Sri Lankan man browses through a newspaper featuring a double page spread the wishing the Sri Lankan team good luck in the final Photograph: Lakruwan Wanniarachchi/AFP/Getty Images

A Sri Lankan Hindu priest performs a special prayer ritual wishing the the team good luck at a Hindu temple in Colombo Photograph: Lakruwan Wanniarachchi/AFP/Getty Images

Sri Lankan fans parade in their neighbourhood carrying national flags in support of their team Photograph: Eranga Jayawardena/AP

Sri Lankan Buddhist monks offer special prayers to bless the national cricket team at the Kelaniya Temple in Kelaniya Photograph: Ishara S.kodikara/AFP/Getty Images