5 early lessons ahead of the 2019 World Cup

#3 Bangladesh are no longer pushovers

The Bangla Tigers made it to the semis of an ICC event for the first time ever

In the last few years, Bangladesh has progressed in leaps and bounds under the guidance of their coach Chandika Hathurusingha. Their success on home soil in consecutive series last year was noted by one and all. The big question mark, however, was whether they would be able to replicate that success on foreign soil.

The Champions Trophy answered all these questions as Bangladesh put in splendid performances to advance to the semi-finals of an ICC event for the first time. The team also has a good mixture of youth and experience with prodigious talents like Soumya Sarkar and Mustafizur Rahman coming through while they are able to bank on the wealth experience of Shakib Al Hasan, Musfiqur Rahim and Tamim Iqbal to guide them.

Bangladesh did not let their passionate fans down as they played some spirited cricket en route to their semi-final with their high point coming in the form of twin centuries from Shakib and Musfiqur in a successful run chase in their virtual quarter-final against New Zealand.

As they continue to go from strength to strength, Bangladesh will truly be a force to contend with for the 2017 World Cup.