Cricket in the time of football

Amid the frenzy surrounding the FIFA World Cup, a Bangladesh-India three-match ODI series will kick off in unfamiliarly low-key fashion today at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur from 1pm.
At any other time the home series would be the centre of attention among a usually cricket-crazy nation, but football has been dominating discussions at every corner and sports lovers have been spending sleepless nights watching the biggest show on earth.
For broadcasters, a series involving India always brings a large share of fortune but the time is not ideal for Gazi TV, which will carry live telecast of the matches, as they were bemoaning the lack of interest and had a meeting with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) in search of possible solutions. There was also no rush for tickets.
With general disinterest as the backdrop, Mushfiqur Rahim's men however have no scope to let down their intensity when they meet an under-strength India led by Suresh Raina as the challenge ahead is far more demanding than usual. There will be more expectation on the Tigers as the series will be played in the absence of stalwarts like MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli. In terms of experience Bangladesh are far ahead than this India side, so fans will look forward to seeing the hosts taking full advantage to erase memories of their dismal show in the Asia Cup and the ICC World Twenty20 earlier this year.
Despite their recent bad form -- they lost all their seven ODIs this year -- Bangladesh are a good one-day unit but out-of-form players like dashing opener Tamim Iqbal must ensure that the bad patch is behind him to comply their captain's expectation of answering the slight of India sending a second-string side. The overall head-to-head is 22-3 in favour of India but the record should not be considered, at least for the series.
Additionally, cricket lovers will pray that rain will not upset the series further, although some rain is forecast for this evening.