ST JOHN'S, Antigua (CMC):

BANGLADESH, EXUDING confidence on their arrival here on Tuesday, were already looking ahead to the challenge awaiting them in next month's ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 in the Caribbean.

The Asian side was met on arrival by the deputy High Commission out of Ottawa, Canada, Syed Masud Mahmood Khundoker, as well as Antiguan government and CWC Local Organising Committee officials.

Australian coach Dav Whatmore said their preparation had been going well and believed the early arrival in the Caribbean would do the team well.

"We are here to do as well as we can," Whatmore said. "We are here a little early than (most) other countries which we think is a valuable asset to have."

Bangladesh will be engaged in a tri-series involving Bermuda, who arrived here on Monday night, and Canada, who are due in tomorrow. The series starts on Sunday at the Antigua Recreation Ground and will help the three teams fine-tune their preparations."We see this is as a means of final preparation before the World Cup gets under way next month," Whatmore said.

He said their recent series win against Zimbabwe had been a good tonic for their confidence.

Very good team spirit

"Our team spirit is very good. The team has played some good cricket over the last six to eight months culminating in our first series victory abroad against a full ICC-member country just a week ago," Whatmore said.

"So to go abroad and win was not easy for us. We have done that so the spirit is very, very high."

He said the matches against Bermuda on Sunday and Canada next Wednesday would be used to blood the younger members of the squad.

"We would like them to use these games to get settled in a little bit quicker than what may be the case," Whatmore said.

He said they would also concentrate on "the combinations (they) need to have in certain games".

"Competition is always welcomed particularly in the West Indies where we will be playing the World Cup," Whatmore said.

"The stage next month is a big one. It is becoming more a reality. The team is becoming more matured. The team is improving and we have strung together some pretty good victories albeit against opposition we were supposed to win against anyway."

Bangladesh will play their official warm-up matches in Barbados against New Zealand and Scotland before travelling to Trinidad for their Group matches against Sri Lanka, India and Bermuda.