The Fourth ICC Champions Trophy that ran from September 10-25 in England was hardly going to be a smash hit especially as it coincided with the start of another English football season.

And to make matters worse playing cricket in cold and miserable September proved disastrous because only two matches in the entire meet -- India versus Pakistan at Edgbaston and the final which was a rare glorious sunny day -- managed to draw full house crowds. On both occasions Asian fans watched proceedings in large numbers thus sparing the organisers any embarrassment.

However, the scenario could have been so different for Michael Vaughan had he found a way to end a stupendous rearguard action by West Indians Courtney Browne and Ian Bradshaw. The unlikely ninth wicket pair denied the home side the climax they wanted to a memorable summer by putting together 71 runs in fading light at The Oval.

Instead, it was the West Indies who tasted the nectar. Not since the 1979 World Cup have the Caribbean islands had reason to celebrate. They also lost the 1998 final to South Africa when it was staged in Dhaka.

Perhaps beating old enemy Australia in the semifinals had taken the wind out England's sails. Led by the incredible hitting power of Andrew Flintoff and Marcus Trescothick, the tournament's top run scorer, nothing could get in their way as they proved emphatically against the world champions and earlier Sri Lanka.

But in the end it was a final heartbreak for the country that staged three World Cups and featured in two of them.

From the Bangladesh point of view, however, the tournament was little more than a learning experience. Placed in a tough group, stand-in captain Rajin Saleh's first assignment was against a demoralised South Africa, who had just come off a 5-0 whitewash at the hands of Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka. But any thoughts of an upset had to be well and truly forgotten before the game began.

Bizarrely electing to bat first, the Tigers mustered just 93 runs before being bowled out in the 32nd over. At least Rajin could take comfort in the knowledge that he was leading the side in the absence of Habibul Bashar. But there was no excuse for Inzamamul Haq to commit such a grave error in the semifinals.

In fact, of the 15 matches played at Southampton's Rose Bowl, Edgbaston in Birmingham and The Oval in London, 13 times it was the case of a team deciding to bowl first.

At least somebody reminded the young Rajin that before his next match against West Indies. However the end result was another big setback for coach Dav Whatmore.

That was last thing Bangladesh cricket needed at a time when a section of pundits were voicing their concerns at the game's depreciation following our induction at the highest level.

Most of the chatter however was about why Rajin was allowed to occupy such an important post and also the team's lack of a serious selection policy.

In an effort to clear the air, both the wise State Minister for Youth and Sports Fazlur Rahman and Bangladesh Cricket Board president Ali Asghar took turns to explain that Bangladesh was on the contrary making slow but steady progress in the development of its cricket and sought patience and understanding from the cricketing fraternity.

They also cited that the game had a solid foundation thanks the support of the crowds at every match be it international or domestic. Besides many stadiums had been built in far-flung areas of the country especially for ICC Under-19 World Cup that was hailed as a great success by seasoned experts who attended matches.

So, if Brian Lara's men could defy all odds and be a tonic for Caribbean cricket then it could inspire a team like Bangladesh as well.

Some have started suggesting the only way out of its current predicament was if the Tigers could have a successful tour of Zimbabwe who themselves are in strife.

"Next year's Zimbabwe tour could be a turning point to establish your position on the international stage. And if you're able to win a Test you can put all the criticism behind you," commented an English expert.