Bangladesh are a point above Sri Lanka and although the World Cup is still at a very early stage, it is hard to imagine both sides envisioning themselves in their respective positions after their first two matches.

Paceman Shafiul Islam left here last night to join up with the Tigers' World Cup squad in Australia, as he was drafted in to replace Al-Amin Hossain, who was withdrawn from the side for breaking team rules.

One down, six to go. Bangladesh have begun brilliantly, swatting aside Afghanistan with a superbly professional and clinical performance at Canberra’s Manuka Oval in the seventh match of ICC Cricket World Cup 201

The seventh match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 sees the Tigers face the non-fancy Afghans in what will be the opening hunt for our national team.

Even as Ireland were hunting down West Indies in Nelson, in a quiet corner of quiet Manuka Oval in quiet Canberra, Bangladesh were going through a three-hour intense training session. Bangladesh lost both their World Cup warm-up games, one of them to Ireland, and their first opponents in the tournament are Afghanistan, who beat them in the Asia Cup last March in the only previous ODI between the two sides.

Bangladesh coach Chanidka Hathurusingha expects his ace allrounder Shakib to take a lead role in the World Cup. Shakib, who took part in the recently concluded Big Bash League, is arguably the most experienced cricketer in the side when it comes to playing in Australia.

The bowling combination will be finalised once the Tigers inspect the pitch at the Manuka Oval, where they face the Afghans on Wednesday. Rubel Hossain is most likely to open the bowling attack with captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza and if the team feels the match needs an extra pacer they will include young Taskin Ahmed, who has been in good touch, in the side.

Bangladeshi cricketer Shakib Al Hasan once again made it into an illustrious list, after previously getting votes of confidence from Sir Vivian Richards, Muttiah Muralidaran, Andy Bichel and Stephen Fleming.

Will Tamim Iqbal, who didn't field in the last game, be able to play a complete match? Will Soumya Sarkar be chosen over a specialist spinner? These and several other questions will need to be answered today; for from next week onwards, the real show begins for the Tigers.

Ireland defeat Bangladesh by four wickets in the Tigers' third and last warm up match in Sydney.

BCB is organising three concerts in Khulna, Chittagong and Mirpur to spread 'positive vibes' and 'gain support' for Bangladesh team in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015

Bangladesh are expected to beat Ireland comfortably. They have won five out of the seven games between the two sides. The question remains whether they can stamp their authority over the Irish; something that might help them boost their confidence to their desired levels.

Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza has said that it will be a 'very tough' task for the Tigers to go through to the second round of the World Cup.