Bangladesh's Mohammed Ashraful catches the ball during a training session in Port of Spain yesterday.

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (AP):

THE ELEMENT of surprise is gone. Bangladesh's five-wicket upset of India might have undermined the World Cup plans of the 1983 champions, but 1996 winners Sri Lanka will be better prepared.

Sri Lanka and Bangladesh both go into today's Group B match at 1-0.

"Bangladesh can't be written off, you've got to give them credit for a fine performance that clinched a victory over India," Sri Lanka batsman Marvan Atapattu said. "One shouldn't be surprised by Bangladesh winning matches now, they're a fine side and have worked hard for it."

Sri Lanka have won 17 of their 18 matches against Bangladesh, but India had only lost once to Bangladesh, so anything is possible, Atapattu said.

Good set up

Sri Lanka outplayed debutant Bermuda by 243 runs in their opening match and a win over Bangladesh will set it up nicely for Friday's match against India - which India must win to have any chance of qualifying for the Super Eights.

Bangladesh have the comparatively easy match against Bermuda last, and can work on their run-rate then. Group B could finish a three-way tie, meaning the two teams advancing will be decided on nett run-rates for the group stage.

Atapattu said top teams could no longer relax.

"Teams are now aware that they'll have to play their best cricket to beat the so-called minors, you just can't take it easy," he said.

Another former captain, Sanath Jayasuriya, said Sri Lanka were confident of going well at the World Cup, but could not get ahead of themselves.

"We've done quite well during the past six months, but we'll have to play hard cricket to get past Bangladesh," he said.

Bangladesh's penetrative attack made India pay dearly for their poor batting on Saturday, bundling Rahul Dravid's team out for 191 and then achieving the victory target at the loss of five wickets with nine balls to spare.

It's the confidence of youth that most disturbs the senior teams.

Teenage trio

Resurgent Bangladesh's batting is led by three teenagers - Tamim Iqbal, Saqibul Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahman - who all scored half-centuries against India.

"We've not played against many of these Bangladeshi youngsters, but saw them on TV playing against India," Atapattu said. "It seems they don't feel any pressure."

Line-ups

Sri Lanka (from): Mahela Jayawardene (captain), Kumar Sangakkara, Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Marvan Atapattu, Tillekeratne Dilshan, Russel Arnold, Chamara Silva, Chaminda Vaas, Farveez Maharoof, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando, Nuwan Kulasekara, Muttiah Muralitharan and Malinga Bandara.

Bangladesh (from): Habibul Bashar (captain), Shahriar Nafees, Tamim Iqbal, Aftab Ahmed, Saqibul Hasan, Mohammad Ashraful, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mohammad Rafique, Abdur Razzak, Mashrafe Mortaza, Shahadat Hossain, Tapash Baisya, Syed Rasel, Rajin Saleh and Javed Omar.