12 September 2004	Sunday	26 Rajab 1425

BIRMINGHAM, Sept 11: South Africa captain Graeme Smith said Sunday's ICC Champions Trophy match against Bangladesh here at Edgbaston was "crucial" for the Proteas after their 5-0 one-day whitewashing in Sri Lanka last month.

Despite those defeats South Africa are overwhelming favourites to beat Bangladesh, along with Zimbabwe the weakest nation amongst cricket's 10-nation Test elite.

But Smith told reporters at Edgbaston on Saturday there was no danger of any complacency setting in amongst his side in a Pool B that also features the out-of-form West Indies

"I think it's really important for us to put in a dominant performance. We definitely won't take Bangladesh for granted.

"It's a crucial match for us and you don't want to let yourselves down against the weaker team in the group," added the 23-year-old Western Province left-hander on the ground where he scored the first of two consecutive double hundreds during last year's Test series against England.

"We know our recent form hasn't been good but we come here with our pride a little bit dented and are really hungry to put in a big performance at this tournament."

Smith became South Africa's youngest ever-captain when he was appointed in succession to Shaun Pollock - who played for Edgbaston-based Warwickshire - after the team's first round exit on home soil at the 2003 World Cup.

One reason for Smith's appointment was his strength of character and he insisted neither his self-belief nor faith in his team had been shaken by the Sri Lanka series.

"The recent run hasn't knocked my confidence, although if anything it drains you a little bit more. You're spending a lot more time with the guys.

"Once you get into a rut you try harder and you sink a little bit more, which we found in Sri Lanka.

"We want to get the enjoyment back in our cricket but you have to get the right things right.

"In Sri Lanka we played a lot of rusty cricket and didn't get the basics right and let ourselves down in crucial situations."

However, Smith was upbeat about his and South Africa's future. "I believe I can do great things with the team. I'm still feeling strong and very confident about the captaincy and I'm sure we'll get out of this situation pretty soon."

Rajin Saleh, captaining Bangladesh for the first time Sunday in the absence of Habibul Bashar (broken thumb), admitted his promotion had taken him aback.

"It was a surprise and it brings pressure but I don't feel pressure because of the players around me."

Bangladesh coach Dav Whatmore, who guided Sri Lanka to World Cup glory in 1996, said he had no qualms about seeing 20-year-old spinner Rajin become captain. "He's fully attacking and he leads by example. This kid would run through a brick wall for you.

"It's another game for him. It may be his first as captain and the youngest captain of Bangladesh. But we have a job to do tomorrow (Sunday) and he has to work at it."-AFP