Bangladesh's captain, Habibul Bashar, catches the ball during a training session in Port-of-Spain yesterday. -Reuters

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (AP):

CAPTAIN HABIBUL Bashar says Bangladesh are on the verge of their biggest World Cup moment and determined to be convincing winners of today's match against Bermuda.

Bangladesh will advance to the Super Eights from Group B, behind unbeaten Sri Lanka, as long as they do not lose the last group match to debutants Bermuda, a country of less than 65,000 people.

"We're bracing for one of Bangladesh cricket's biggest moments, I hope my young team can hold our nerves as the expectations for us have increased a lot," Bashar said at yesterday's net session at Queen's Park Oval. India's loss to Sri Lanka the previous day pushed the 2003 finalists to the verge of a humiliating first-round exit.

Bangladesh's five-wicket victory over India last weekend raised their hopes of making the Super Eights round for the first time.

"Cricket's a big game in our country, making the Super Eights will be a very significant moment for Bangladesh," said Bashar. "People back home are eagerly waiting for us to advance to the Super Eights, it will make them very happy."

Team was very tense

Bashar said the Bangladesh team was very tense as it awaited Friday's result of the Sri Lanka-India contest. An Indian victory could have dashed Bangladesh's hopes.

"Yesterday morning we all were very tense, but in the evening we were relaxed and happy," he said.

In 1999, Bangladesh defeated Pakistan and Scotland at the World Cup - results that contributed to their elevation to Test match status. But four years later, the 2003 World Cup turned out to be a huge disappointment after Bangladesh started with a loss to rank outsiders Canada.

All that Bangladesh's young outfit needs to do today is hold its nerve against an almost entirely amateur team that has had two massive defeats.

"I hope the pressure doesn't become too much for my young players. They're young, but talented and they've got the patience," Bashar said. "I want my players to stay relaxed, play their natural game and relish the moment."

Bermuda captain Irvine Romaine said his team would put up a stiff contest and remained hopeful of winning their last match at the tournament.

"It's been good to play our part in the World Cup," Romaine said. "We've suffered two big losses, but we're looking to finish with a win.

"Bangladesh is a good and young side, but we might catch them napping ... you never know."

Bermuda's squad features just one professional player, batsman David Hemp who captains Glamorgan in the English county competitions.

Line-ups

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.

Bermuda (from): Irvine Romaine (captain), Dean Minors, Delyone Borden, Lionel Cann, David Hemp, Kevin Hurdle, Malachi Jones, Stefan Kelly, Dwayne Leverock, Saleem Mukuddem, Stephen Outerbridge, Oliver Pitcher, Clay Smith, Janeiro Tucker and Kwame Tucker.