West Indies captain Brian Lara throws a ball during a cricket practice session in Jaipur, capital of Rajasthan, yesterday before their ICC Champions Trophy match against Bangladesh today. - Reuters

JAIPUR, India (Reuters):

WEST INDIES skipper Brian Lara cautioned his players against complacency when they face Bangladesh in a Champions Trophy qualifier today, aiming to seal a second victory to reach the main rounds.

The defending champions showed splendid early form to crush Zimbabwe by nine wickets on Sunday, having skittled out the southern African team for 85.

A second win will fetch them a place in the eight-team main round.

Bangladesh also enter the game with some confidence, having batted through the full quota of overs in their 37-run defeat to Sri Lanka in the opening game.

"Bangladesh is a competitive team," Lara said yesterday. "It is a very important game for us."

Eyes wide open

"They have the ability to play good on a given day so we are not taking them lightly," he said. "They have beaten Australia and we don't need to say anything more."

The West Indies were also having to deal with fitness woes as batsmen Ramnaresh Sarwan and Runako Morton and all-rounder Dwayne Smith were down with fever.

"We would put the best team out in the park, not necessarily the one which played in Ahmedabad," Lara said, although a team spokesman said Sarwan and Morton were recovering.

Bangladesh have won just 20 of their 134 one-dayers to date. Three of their four victories against major Test teams have come in the past two years, the most notable being when they shocked world champions Australia in last year's tri-series in England.

Despite his initial disappointment at having to qualify, Lara said yesterday the games would provide exposure to young players ahead of the Pakistan Test tour and in the build-up to the World Cup at home in March-April.

"Certainly the guys know the importance of such tournaments," he said. "We are looking to go very far."