Recent form boosts Bangladesh confidence

DHAKA, Feb 23 (Reuters) Recent form and a notable win over world champions Australia two years ago have boosted Bangladesh's confidence ahead of the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies.

''This time we are a team in a real sense. We have a reliable batting side and a good bowling side as well,'' captain Habibul Bashar told Reuters.

Bangladesh won 18 one-day internationals out of 28 last year.

They also won their latest away series 3-1 against Zimbabwe in early February.

Although most of Bangladesh's victories have come against Zimbabwe and Kenya, they won 64.24 percent of their matches in 2006, second only to Australia (71.42).

''The morale of the team is very high. Everybody is in a positive frame of mind and keen to perform.'' said Bashar.

''And we hope to fight effectively to move forward for the second round in the coming World Cup.'' Bangladesh now have a number of reliable batsman including Shahreer Nafees and Aftab Ahmed.

In 39 ODIs, Nafees has scored 1,391 runs with three centuries and seven fifties while Aftab made 1,374 runs with 12 fifties.

''If a batsman fails, the other will take up the charge,'' Bashar added.

Bangladesh will play in Group B in the World Cup, featuring former champions India and Sri Lanka, plus Bermuda.

Bashar said the side also had two dependable spinners, including Abdur Razzak with 45 scalps in 2006.

At the last World Cup in South Africa, Bangladesh lost five of their six games including one against Canada while they were also at the receiving end of a hat-trick by Chaminda Vaas in the first three balls of the match against Sri Lanka.

''That is now a part of history. Now we target to reach the second round of the next Cup,'' Bashar said.

''Just two wins can take us to the Super Eight, though the job is very difficult. We have two teams in the group who will be looking to win the trophy so it won't be easy to beat them.

''But being underdogs we will have always some advantages. The pressure will remain always on them,'' he said.

Coach Dav Whatmore derives hope from Kenya, who moved into the semi-finals in 2003.

''Kenyan success four years ago will always be an inspiration for the underdogs,'' said Whatmore, who won the World Cup with Sri Lanka in 1996.

''But at the same time we did not forget that they won three points after New Zealand forfeited their match in Nairobi. We can't expect anything like that. We have to work hard for everything we want to win.'' Reuters AY DB1008