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Bangladesh

The steady rise of Bangladesh in world cricket hasn't been as fast or as painless as they might have hoped in any format, but in these early years of a new decade, it's beginning to look like the subcontinent's slumbering giant might just turn a few heads in the twenty-over game.  Since March their T20 record is 9 wins to 4 defeats, including series wins over Zimbabwe, Australia and New Zealand; the only question is whether they can continue that form into a tournament which hasn't treated them kindly in years gone by.  After reaching the Super 8s in 2007, they went winless through the 2009, 2010 and 2012 editions, crashed out in the Super 10s in 2014, and came within a whisker of a famous win against India in 2016 - needing just two off the last three balls - only to gift their opponents a hat-trick and lose by one single run.

But five and a half years have passed since that heartbreak, and the Tigers head into this World Cup placed 6th in the world rankings.  Skipper Mahmudullah is an experienced head leading an experienced core featuring seasoned veterans such as Shakib Al Hasan, Soumya Sarkar and Mushfiqur Rahim; Mustafizur Rahman - "the Fizz" - still carries a weight on his shoulders as the golden boy who never quite fulfilled his huge potential, but youngster Nasum Ahmed has shone since his debut in March, which eases the pressure somewhat.  The only thorn in Bangladesh's side is the absence of the explosive Tamim Iqbal at the top of the order, ruled out due to knee troubles and a consequent lack of game time, forcing Mohammad Naim and Liton Das to open the batting.  On paper, there's no doubt that the Tigers should top their preliminary group with ease.  The real question is whether the momentum they gain - and the confidence that comes with it - will be enough to let them bloody a few noses further down the line.

Highest World Cup total: 180-2 vs Oman (Dharamsala, 2016)
Lowest World Cup total: 70 vs New Zealand (Kolkata, 2016)
Leading World Cup run-scorer: Shakib Al Hasan, 567 runs
Best World Cup innings: Tamim Iqbal, 103* vs Oman (Dharamsala, 2016)
Leading World Cup wicket-taker: Shakib Al Hasan, 30 wickets
Best World Cup bowling figures: Mustafizur Rahman, 5-22 vs New Zealand (Kolkata, 2016)