It was a perfect picture portraying interest in cricket if you want to gloat over the game's popularity in Bangladesh but a closer inspection would reveal that the attraction did not go beyond that dusty field.

"We are very disappointed with our team. They play well abroad but can not perform at home. We want an answer why this is happening? We won't go to the ground tomorrow. What's the use?" said one of the teenagers Mamun.

According to local sources only 800 taka worth of tickets had been sold till yesterday afternoon although that information could not be verified.

A boy called Rajib, barely in his teens, was timing the red taped tennis ball beautifully. Flicking, driving, defending by going behind the ball impeccably, left-hander Rajib was a hero to his mates. His defensive technique was so good that you can't help, albeit sheepishly, compare that with the front-foot defence of the Tigers' batters.

And yet, he has never been coached and has learnt everything by watching others! Surely this boy would find interest in the Test? Not quite. Rajib isn't even aware that two of his home city batsmen Nafees Iqbal and Aftab Ahmed might be playing together in a Test in Chittagong for the first time.

Interestingly, the more senior lads who had just completed a net session beside the main approach to the MA Aziz were also not much enthusiastic about the Test the next day.

"Just hope they do well. What can we do if we don't have the talent? I'll be watching it on TV," said one disheartened young man.

The mood is pretty similar everywhere you look. There were no signs of the long queues that one saw before the Test match against England last October and locals are pretty sure that the attendance will not match previous Tests here.