The menu isn’t really unappetising — Pakistan vs India never needed any seasoning, and Bangladesh trying to pull fast ones on both always promises kicks for those who love biting into chilies, running for the water jar, and then returning to bite into another fiery one. But, despite the natty spread Bangladesh have laid out for the two neighbouring super-powers in the form of a crisp ODI tri-series under lights, their invitees might completely ignore the main course, and head straight for the coffee pot to shake off their IPL hangover.It’s not the first time that Bangladesh have been struck by the curse of being hosts in a humble garden-patch, just after the blaring party music went silent in the greater cricketing world. Twice India have arrived here, distracted by the recent past of World Cup campaigns — in 2003, still hazy-eyed over their dream-run up to the final at Wanderers, and right after 2007, still rubbing eyes red over their disastrous exit from the Caribbean. Both times, Bangladesh were swatted aside with the disdain that is reserved for no one in particular. India could have trampled over any side they met then, such was the mood to simply stick to the calendar and get on with bigger battles ahead. Even the revenge 2-0 series win at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium after the Tigers’ World Cup upset last year, didn’t stir much emotion.No results, no hypeSo India hop across their eastern border again — a week after the IPL final — while Pakistan coach Geoff Lawson has declared that this week-long series would be a good warm-up to gauge India ahead of the Asia Cup, nothing more. Where does that leave Bangladesh, who despite having shaken both the powerhouses in critical World Cup games, don’t get taken as seriously as they would like?Ticket sales have been steady, but not surging like they used to four-five years ago, informs Rabeed Imam, who has watched Bangladesh rise and hit the plateaus repeatedly after all of their high-points. Managing their media affairs now, Imam points out that the pressure this time is much more. “We haven’t had great results this year, and except for Ireland we’ve lost all games. The team needs to use this series to win back fans’ passionate loyalties, because cricket is still the No. 1 sport here,” he says. Bangladesh need to tone up even as they lose their baby-fat, and the associated cuddling won’t come their way as the years pass.News on the nation’s hockey premier league, currently in its decisive stages, leads on sports pages, even as eyes are trained on Maldives for the football team’s results at the SAFF Cup and Bangladesh celebrates the official announcement of its fourth chess Grandmaster. “The Tigers keep losing, so it’s very difficult to stay interested. But still, they are our best bunch of sportsmen,” says 17-year-old Riasul, who wasn’t too pleased with Bangladesh’s 5-0 hammering at the hands of Pakistan in early summer.Another shot at attentionYet, hosting a series drums up some measure of enthusiasm. “Playing against India has become interesting because we’ve beaten them twice in the last few games. And though the passion is not out in the streets — posters and all — Ashraful and Tamim Iqbal are still recognisable heroes,” Imam avers. More deeply felt though is Bangladesh’s near-nothing representation in the IPL, where only Abdur Razzak got one-odd game with the Royal Challengers, and didn’t do much. “We’d have liked more boys to be part of the IPL. But with India coming here, and all the media-attention, it means it’s the best chance for our boys to catch the eye for future seasons,” Imam says. For Indians, it is simply that strong coffee at a brunch buffet. At best, a bitter-sweet reminder that the whole day needs to be spent playing a 50-over game, not a mere four hours for millions of dollars.
