DHAKA, Jan 14: Bangladesh look well-equipped to make history at February’s ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in Sri Lanka by reaching Super League stage of competition for the first time.

In four previous tournaments- 1998, 2000, 2002 and 2004 – they have never reached next stage, including two agonising near misses in 1998 and 2000 when they lost out only on net run-rate.

Two years ago, on home turf, they won consolation event of Plate competition by beating Australia in a memorable final, but what Bangladesh really wants is to be competing for major prize, Under-19 World Cup itself.

For this tournament they have settled side full of experience -– 11 of their 14 players have tasted first-class action — and high-quality batting. They are full of confidence after a series of impressive results.

They came third in last November’s Afro-Asia Under-19 Cup when, after losing their opening two matches against India and Sri Lanka, they bounced back with victories over Zimbabwe, Pakistan (one of their group A opponents in Under-19 World Cup) and South Africa.

And they followed that with further success in a tri-series with Sri Lanka and England, winning five out of six group matches and the final to take trophy.

If that is not reason enough to believe they have what it takes to reach Super League stage, they have added bonus that 10 of their squad have already experienced Sri Lankan conditions after touring there with a High Performance team late last year.

Standing in their way in group A are not only Pakistan but also New Zealand and Associate side Uganda, and all three of them will need to be wary of Bangladesh’s batting power, which has been bedrock of their recent success.

In Under-19 Afro-Asia Cup they knocked off 123 they required to beat Zimbabwe in just 12.4 overs and then chased down 252 to beat Pakistan by one wicket.

The bowling is more of unknown quantity at this level but recent form suggests Bangladesh are still more than adequately catered for in this department.

Bangladesh squad: Mushfiqur Rahim (captain), Mehrab Hossain (vice-captain), Nabil Samad Chowdhury, Sakib Al Hasan, Roqibul Hassan, Kazi Kamrul Islam, Rezaul Islam, Sirajullah Khadem, Tamim Iqbal Khan, Dollar Mahmud, Mohammad Shamsur Rahman, Md Sohrawardi, Mehedi Hasan Siddiqui and Ishraq Sonnet. Manager: Golam Mohamed Nowsher; Coach: Allister de Winter.—Agencies