After hosting the inaugural championship in 1998 without participating in it, Bangladesh lost all their five matches in the next three editions without a fight.

An eight-wicket drubbing by England at Nairobi in 2000 is their narrowest defeat in defending a total, while a 138-run loss to the West Indies in England in 2004 is the better of two efforts while chasing.

But Bangladesh have now tasted victory against some top sides and would be hoping to produce another shock win to make it past the qualifiers, in which they are pitted against two former world champions.

They have to defeat either Sri Lanka or the West Indies apart from Zimbabwe to make it as one of the two teams advancing to the tournament proper.

Bangladesh coach Dav Whatmore, a former Australian Test cricketer, felt the team had the ability to win the required two matches.

"I think we have a good chance of winning two out of three matches," said Whatmore, who had the satisfaction of seeing Bangladesh thrash Kenya 3-0 in an away series earlier this year.

"We are going to work extremely hard and will leave no stone unturned to achieve the desired result in the Champions Trophy," said Whatmore. "This team is a lot different from those of the past."

Whatmore was happy at the way youngsters were being encouraged with 20-year-old opener Shahriar Nafees named deputy to captain Habibul Bashar and uncapped batsman Mehrab Hossain included in the squad.

"We have tried out some young players and that has enabled the team to become a lot more flexible in its ability," said Whatmore, who has been with the team since 2003.

Bangladesh, having the benefit of exposure and confidence after shock wins over world champions Australia and neighbours India in one-day games over the last two seasons, have improved their record in recent matches.

They blanked Kenya and also figured in a keenly fought series in Zimbabwe which they lost 2-3, but still lack consistency and have also had some injury worries in the runup to the tournament.

Bowling spearhead Mashrafee bin Mortuza, who captured 12 wickets in the Kenya series including a Bangladeshi record of 6-26, was recovering from an ankle injury sustained off the field.

Other seamers Syed Rasel and Shahadat Hossain had foot injuries close to the championship which they open against Sri Lanka in the northern Indian city of Mohali on October 7.

But they have on the ranks players like Mohammad Ashraful, Aftab Ahmed and veteran all-rounder Mohammad Rafique, all capable of turning a match.