We like to think that we as Americans are obsessed with sports. We plan Super Bowl Party menus and analyze the strengths of our brackets and the potential of Cinderella teams during March Madness.

But other countries are gearing up for another long-anticipated sporting event this spring: the other World Cup.

No, not the one about soccer – this one’s about cricket. And this World Cup may be playing out right in your sponsored child’s backyard. 

The 2011 Cricket World Cup began on February 19 with an opening match between India and Bangladesh in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Unlike the Super Bowl, this isn’t a single match-up of two powerhouse teams. World Cup matches between the 14 teams are held throughout February and March, with the final match on April 02 in Mumbai, India.

UPDATE: The final match was between Sri Lanka and India, and India prevailed!

If your sponsored child lives in Bangladesh, India, or Sri Lanka, this is a great opportunity to ask questions and learn about their favorite cricket player. India is a highly favored team, and cricket fever will be tough to ignore.

Sri Lanka hosts 12 matches in Hambantota (which is near to the LK-300s and 400s projects ), Kandy (LK-030s), and Colombo (home to the LK-200s and 700s).

Bangladesh will host 8 in Chittagong (where BD-030 is located) and Dhaka (home to BD-001, 048, 053, and 056).

India will host 29 matches in several cities, including Mumbai (IN-300s), Kolkata (IN-001-14, 029), Bangalore (IN-131), Chennai (IN-144), and New Delhi (IN-250s).

Perhaps your sponsored child has mentioned that he or she plays cricket. We cannot underestimate how popular this game is. But here’s a little perspective:

• Last year’s Super Bowl showdown between the New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts drew 106 million television viewers.
• The 2010 Olympics in Vancouver (which like the Cricket World Cup occurs every four years and thus may be a better comparison) drew 190 million viewers.
• The last Cricket World Cup, held by the West Indies in 2007, boasted more than 2 billion television viewers. And this year, the Cup is expected to be even bigger. 

It is estimated that 1.5 billion people follow cricket seriously, making it the second-most popular sport after soccer. Many of the cricket stadiums hold more than 50,000 people. One in Kolkata could hold more than 80,000 – comparable to many American football stadiums.

And to think, this World Cup will last more than a month. That's serious devotion.

This week we'll highlight the most popular sports in your sponsored child's country. Don't miss tomorrow's tip with ideas for writing to your sponsored child about their favorite athletes and games.