Bangladesh head into the 2011 World Cup hoping to make an impact, after a few indifferent appearances as they emerge as a cricket-playing nation.
Strengths: Bangladesh have an advantage in that this is the first World Cup that they will be playing at home. There have been two World Cups played in the sub-continent before this and Bangladesh have not been a part of them. Playing at home will be a huge advantage given the crowd support and the fact that the pitches in Bangladesh will support spin bowing.
Bangladesh has a battery of spinners and there is a good chance that the side may even think of opening with the slower bowlers. India is the only side in their group who can play spinners reasonably well while the likes of Ireland, Netherlands and West Indies could find it difficult to put them across.
Weakness: One of their advantages is also their weakness – the crowds will put pressure on the side. If Bangladesh can get off to a decent start, it may augur well, but if they lose a couple of games too easily, there is a good chance of the pressure coming back on them and that is something they have not been able to handle too well. Their batting also depends far too heavily on Tamim Iqbal and Shakib al Hasan and the early dismissals of both could spell problems.
Players to watch out for: Iqbal and Shakib aside, the side will need Abdur Razzaq to fire as well. His ODI bowling average is 27 and with an economy of 4.44, one can be rest assured he will be the player to watch out for.
Matches against: India at Dhaka, Ireland at Dhaka, West Indies at Dhaka, England at Chittagong, Netherlands at Chittagong, South Africa at Dhaka.