Can Bangladesh win the 2007 World Cup?

By John Cheeran
Can Bangladesh win the 2007 World Cup?
Bangladesh has had a dream start to their campaign.
After ambushing India, former world champions and their liberators, these militant youngsters are poised to enter the Super 8. And today they are up against another former world champions Sri Lanka.
With Tamim Iqbal, a pale imitation of Sanath Jayasuriya, and a few crafty left-arm spinners in their ranks Bangladesh should fancy their chances in the Asian skirmish at Port of Spain.
And to the delight of Bangladeshi’s quite a few Indians will be praying for a victory for their neighbours since that would spare India the agony of run rate equations, if they beat Sri Lanka on Friday.
To classify Bangladesh as minnows in 2007 is nothing but a costly mistake.
Bangladesh had shocked Pakistan in the 1999 World Cup, with or without the help of bookies, in 2001, they had beaten world champions Australia at Cardiff. And one should remember that Bangladesh is a legitimate Test nation – not quite in the league of Bermuda, Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands.
In 1983, not many had given India any serious thought even after they had beaten defending champions West Indies in the group game. Can Bangladesh live up to what India did in 1983?
Bangladesh skipper Habibul Bashar knows that it is worth a try as they line up to face Sri Lanka.