Dhaka: Did you wake up on Tuesday morning bursting with excitement about India playing Pakistan? If the answer is no, then shouldn't that come as a bit of a surprise?
After all, this is cricket's marquee rivalry that gets pulses racing across the globe but is there a danger of overkill? Now, even some players fear that.
The magic of an India-Pakistan contest is hard to escape but Shahid Afridi feels that there is a danger of the golden goose being overcooked.
In a newspaper column, Afridi was quoted as saying, "There seems to be some fatigue among spectators at the moment when it comes to games between India and Pakistan."
"At present, with India and Pakistan crossing paths at least twice or thrice a year, especially for One-Dayers, some of the jadoo (magic) has gone. We will have to play each other only as often as England and Australia do. It can be around once in 18 months like the Ashes is," he said.
So does Afridi have a point? Yes, if you look at some of the figures since cricketing relations between the two countries resumed in 2004.
India and Pakistan have played 12 Test matches and 27 One-Day Internationals against each other.
Two series of three Tests each have been played in each of the two countries and that has been followed by One-day series and skirmishes at neutral venues such as Abu Dhabi. Not everyone though thinks there has been an overkill.
"I think, the rivalry between India and Pakistan will only get greater through the games - Asia Cup, Champions Trophy and the following series in December-January. There is not much difference between the two team and it is just that you will have to play well on the day," said Pakistan coach Geoff Lawson.
The next full series between the two teams is scheduled for January in Pakistan. The response from the crowds to that contest will perhaps be an indication of whether Afridi has felt the pulse right.
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