Minnows Ireland warn Bangladesh of settling the score

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DHAKA // Ireland will be out to impress the rest of the tournament when its World Cup campaign begins against co-host Bangladesh tomorrow, according to captain William Porterfield.

Porterfield said his players wanted to put in a performance in the Group B game that will "make people sit up and take notice again."

Ireland caused a huge upset at the 2007 tournament in the Caribbean, when the non-test playing side beat former world champion Pakistan to reach the Super Eight stage.

Now it is looking to settle a score with Bangladesh after being trounced 3-0 in a one-day series here in 2008.

Ireland's preparations for the World Cup included a month in India late last year and a January training camp in Dubai as Porterfield's side looks to avoid the problems it faced three years ago.

"The last time we played in Bangladesh, we were taken by surprise by the heat, the humidity and the spinners," he said.

"But this time we will not be found wanting. There is a lot more preparation done and we have spent a week in Dhaka getting used to the conditions."

Porterfield believes that Bangladesh's spin attack would be the main threat against the Irish.

"We know what to expect," the Irish captain said. "Spin will obviously play a part in this World Cup and more so in Bangladesh, whose game plan is all about spin.

"But we feel we are ready. It has been a very good preparation for the tournament, where the focus was obviously on playing spin."

Coach Phil Simmons also pointed out a key change from Ireland's 2007 World Cup squad, which was mainly composed of amateurs, to the players performing at the 2011 edition.

"The difference this time is that 13 of the 15 players earn their living from cricket," he said. "That's practically a full-time squad."