Bangladesh out to make history at ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup

Bangladesh look well-equipped to make history at next month's ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup (U/19 CWC) in Sri Lanka.

In the four previous tournaments they have played - 1998, 2000, 2002 and 2004 - they have never reached the Super League stage, including two agonising near misses in 1998 and 2000 when they lost out only on net run-rate.

True, two years ago, on home turf, they won the consolation event of the Plate competition by beating Australia in a memorable final, but what Bangladesh really wants is to be competing for the major prize, the U/19 CWC itself.

And the signs are that they may be in a position to do just that this February by reaching that Super League, with all its possibilities for glory, for the first time.

For this tournament they have a settled side and one that is full of experience - 11 of their 14 players have tasted first-class action - and high-quality batting. On top of that, they are full of confidence after a series of impressive results.

The Tigers came third in last November's Afro-Asia U/19 Cup when, after losing their opening two matches against India and Sri Lanka, they bounced back with victories over Zimbabwe, Pakistan (one of their group A opponents in the U/19 CWC) and South Africa.

And they followed that with further success in a tri-series with Sri Lanka and England, winning five out of six group matches and the final to take the trophy.

If that is not reason enough to believe they have what it takes to reach the Super League stage, they have the added bonus that 10 of their squad have already experienced Sri Lankan conditions after touring there with a High Performance team late last year.

Standing in their way in group A are not only Pakistan but also New Zealand and Associate side Uganda, and all three of them will need to be wary of Bangladesh's batting power, which has been the bedrock of their recent success.

In the Afro-Asia U/19 Cup they knocked off the 123 they required to beat Zimbabwe in just 12.4 overs and then chased down 252 to beat Pakistan by one wicket thanks to half-centuries by opener Tamim Iqbal and all-rounder Md. Sohrawadi, who had earlier taken four wickets.

Then in the tri-series with England and Sri Lanka three of their batsmen scored hundreds - Tamim, Sakib Al Hasan and Roqibul Hassan - and all of them were impressive innings.

Tamim's 112 took just 71 balls against England and came out of only 160 while he was at the crease, Roqibul eased to 121 in 164 deliveries against Sri Lanka and Sakib Al Hasan made 100 from only 85 balls in the final, also against Sri Lanka, to make victory a formality.

And if that trio are not a daunting enough prospect for opposition attacks then, further down the order, there is also Mushfiqur Rahim to contend with. The diminutive wicketkeeper has already played Test cricket as a specialist batsman and will captain the side in Sri Lanka.

The bowling is more of an unknown quantity at this level but recent form suggests Bangladesh are still more than adequately catered for in this department.

They have the left-arm spin of Nabil Samad Chowdhury, who took 37 wickets (the second-highest tally) in domestic first-class cricket in 2004/05 and Sakib Al Hasan's left-arm medium-pace (he took 10 wickets in the tri-series against England and Sri Lanka).

On top of that there appears useful back-up in the shape of opening bowler Dollar Mahmud (15 wickets in six first-class matches), Mehrab Hossain, a left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder and vice-captain, and Md. Sohrawadi (another left-armer) amongst others.

Tamim Iqbal, Sakib Al Hasan, Roqibul Hassan and Mehrab Hossain are four players Mushfiqur tips to be Bangladesh's star performers but his key message seems to be that the whole side is full of the belief that comes from their recent successes.

"We expect to play good cricket and qualify for the Super League," said the captain. "We (have) played together as a team for (the) last two years (and) have good potential and good all-rounders in our squad."

And Mushfiqur can even allow himself to think beyond the achievement of reaching the Super League.

"Winning any ICC event would mean a lot to me," he added. "I would say one of the greatest achievements in (my) lifetime."

The Bangladesh squad is: , Mushfiqur Rahim (captain), Mehrab Hossain (vice-captain), Nabil Samad Chowdhury, Sakib Al Hasan, Roqibul Hassan, Kazi Kamrul Islam, Rezaul Islam, Sirajullah Khadem, Tamim Iqbal Khan, Dollar Mahmud, Md Shamsur Rahman, Md Sohrawardi, Mehedi Hasan Siddiqui and Ishraq Sonnet.

Manager - Golam Mohamed Nowsher, coach - Allister de Winter, assistant coach - Abedeen Nazmul.

The ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup 2006 will take place between February 5 and 19. 16 teams are scheduled to play 44 matches in 15 days at five different venues in Colombo.

Over the next three weeks, the ICC's Corporate Affairs department will continue the build-up to the tournament by providing the latest news and also profiling all the teams taking part.