If there’s something more threatened than the status of one-dayers in post-IPL times, it is the existence of smaller nations within those 50-over games. A perfect doubling of the T20 format in the rain-truncated tri-series opener between Pakistan and Bangladesh saw the hosts offer no resistance to a solid performance from the visitors. What that resulted in was a clear halving of spectators at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium midway through Bangladesh’s stuttering response to Pakistan’s 233, in a match they eventually lost by 70 runs.

Patience will be at a premium amongst audience now, accustomed to compact action of the T20 format. Mismatches — like the one on Sunday — will be clucked at even more, with those watching, arguing on the futility of such a competition. Quaint as it looks, there will be little appreciation for a drinks trolley dressed up as a Dhaka cycle-rickshaw.

Today, memories of Bangladesh’s 1999 win at the World Cup, their only one in all these years, seemed more distant than ever. The Tigers helped Salman Butt (70) to his fifth successive 50-plus score, and Md Yousuf (59 off 56) milked their bowling to erase recollections of his unemployed summer.

Pakistan hardly missed Mohammad Asif, as left-arm pacer Wahab Riaz emerged from out of nowhere — he comes from Lahore, actually — to sneak in as first-change and grab three wickets, making the most of his stay in Dhaka over the last month with Pakistan’s Academy XI. Shahid Afridi found customary redemption after wasting his start with the bat, with bowling figures of 3/19 at an economical 2.37.

... contd.