DHAKA: The world's best all-rounder, a batting average second only to the great Sir Donald Bradman and the fastest scorers in the first five overs in one-day internationals. No, it's not Australia or South Africa, but Bangladesh.
They might be one of the minnows of the Cricket World Cup, but they're developing some world-class players and will take on Afghanistan in front of a sold-out crowd at Manuka Oval on Wednesday.
Shakib Al Hasan is No.1 on the ICC's all-rounder rankings in all three formats of the game, while Mominul Haque's Test average of 63.05 is the second best in history - although he has only played 12 Test matches.
Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusingha said simply being happy to be part of the World Cup was no longer an option for his team and winning was now the focus.
Part of the responsibility for that will fall on the shoulders of Al Hasan, who played for the Melbourne Renegades during this summer's Big Bash League.
Hathurusingha described him as an "explosive" batsman, whose left-arm orthodox bowling was also important.
"We've got the No.1 all-rounder in all formats of the game ... he's a key player for us, I'm expecting him to perform and take a lead role and lead us from the front," Hathurusingha said.
"I think you have seen him a little bit for Melbourne Renegades. He's an explosive batter when he gets in and he can control the game, and he's a very clever bowler.
"I think winning for any team is important, [but] for Bangladesh especially. This is an opportunity for them to prove where they're at with world cricket.
"So winning, for me, is the No.1 thing, it's not just participating, but the key for us is to perform to our expectation, our standard.
"If we do that, certain games we'll surprise the opposition."
Hathurusingha is hoping his knowledge of Australian and Canberran conditions will also help his team.
The former Sri Lankan opening batsman was an assistant coach with the NSW Sheffield Shield team and coach of the Sydney Thunder in the BBL.
He was part of NSW's Shield victory at Manuka last year and knows what to expect from the batsman-friendly pitch.
Especially given a lot of his players have never played at Australia's big stadiums, like the MCG, before.
"That helps, because I've been here and we've spoken about that and we try to play like [it's Aussie conditions] back home and try a few things and that's helped," he said.
Hathurusingha said there was pressure to win every game of the World Cup, regardless of who the opposition was.
He didn't feel there was any added weight of expectation taking on relative newcomers Afghanistan.
"The pressure is there in the World Cup, especially the first game ... you don't know what to expect so we're all a bit nervous and expecting to do well," Hathurusingha said.
"So that's a good thing to feel a bit of tension, that's there anyway whether [you're playing] Afghanistan, Australia or New Zealand."
There's expected to be a large contingent of Bangladesh ex-pats travelling from Sydney for the game and Hathurusingha said Canberrans could expect a unique atmosphere as a result.
"I think it's going to be really different to what you're used to because the sub-continent passion from the people, because they're really vocal and they really want to get involved emotionally with the game and the players," he said.
"It's going to be fascinating for the locals and I'm sure you'll enjoy that.
"[There won't be] much drums with Bangladesh, but more chanting - the singing will probably come later with the Sri Lankan and West Indies teams, but this will be more vocal."
Source: The Sydney Morning Herald
BDST: 1136 HRS, FEB 17, 2015
