Dhaka, Nov 10: Bangladesh today received full backing from the head of cricket's world governing body despite a poor record since being admitted to the Test arena in 2000. Ehsan Mani, president of the International Cricket Council (ICC), said standards in Bangladesh had improved in recent times and next year's junior World Cup will give cricket a major boost in the country.
"It is better not to look back. Bangladesh is now performing better than any time before," Mani told reporters on arrival in Dhaka for a four-day visit.
"I am hopeful that Bangladesh will be able to find new players when it hosts the junior World Cup."
Bangladesh has lost 25 of its 26 Test matches - 15 of them by an innings. It drew a rain-hit test against Zimbabwe in Dhaka in 2001.
Of the 71 one-day internationals Bangladesh has played against Test nations, it won only a single game against Pakistan in the 1999 World Cup in England.
Mani, who is accompanied by ICC chief executive officer Malcolm Speed, will study the preparations for the junior World Cup to be held in Dhaka from February, 2004 and release the tournament logo.
Mani is also expected to call on Bangladesh's Prime Minister Khaleda Zia during the trip. Bureau Report