Date-stamped : 05 Apr97 - 14:18 04 April 1997 Bangladesh in 'life or death' situation in ICC Trophy KUALA LUMPUR, April 3: Bangladesh, who are tipped to become the next Test-playing nation, are under immense pressure to book a place in the last four of the ICC Trophy here. Unbeaten Bangladesh come up against Holland here Friday in their last quarterfinal group F game. It will be a crucial match for both sides with the winner progressing into the semi-finals w if Ireland defeat Hong Kong in the other game in the same group. I can live with it if we lose, but I don't think it will be the same for the Bangladeshi players. It is virtually a life or death situation for them, " said a Dutch player, Wednesday, which is a rest day. Bangladesh face enormous pressure to qualify for the 1999 World Cup from their cricket-crazy fans back home. When they failed to achieve this target during the ICC Trophy in Kenya in 1994, angry fans burnt down the Bangladesh Cricket Board in Dhaka. All the Bangladesh players admit in private that they are afraid to go back home if they fail in their quest to become one of the three teams here, which qualify for the World Cup in England in two years time. One of the most talented sides among the 22 associate member countries and territories, Bangladesh have never ever made it to a World Cup, the closest they came was in 1982 and 1990 when on both occasions they were beaten by Zimbabwe in the final of the ICC Trophy. Since 1994, associate members have been assigned three places in the World Cup. Last time the United Arab Emirates, Kenya and Holland qualified. This time around, the race is still open for any number of teams thanks to the disruptive weather. Rain forestalled Bangladesh's bid to book their semi-final berth Wednesday when the game against Ireland was called off with the Bangladeshis in a winning position. Having bowled the Irish out for 129, Bangladesh were 23 for no loss when rain halted play. It was resumed, but after just three deliveries, the umpires abandoned the game, despite the vehement protests of the Bangladesh players. Team officials later lodged a protest, but it was unsuccessful. It will all now boil down to the game against Holland on Friday. Bangladesh and Ireland head group F presently with three points each while Holland and Hong Kong have one apiece. Rank outsiders Hong Kong could surprise everyone and enter the semi-finals if they beat the Irish and hope the Bangladeshis manage to stay cool and keep their unbeaten record in this tournament. In group E, Kenya and Scotland, who meet, Friday, are on three points each, while Denmark and Canada have one point each. Kenya and Scotland are tipped to move on from this group, with the winner going through on points while the loser of this match qualifies on a superior run rate. Bowling record : Bad weather could stop Dutch swing bowler Asim Khan claiming the record for the most wickets taken in the history of the ICC Trophy. "I want to break the record for the most number of wickets taken at an ICC Trophy. Only rain stands in my way," said Khan, a former Lahore resident who has lived in Utrecht for the past seven years. Khan has taken 17 wickets with his in-swinging yorkers, making him the leading wicket-taker in the 22-team competition now at the quarter final stage. The 30-year-old Khan needs six more wickets to break the record haul of 22, set by Denmark's Ole Mortensen at the 1986 ICC Trophy. "I know I can do it. All I need is for the sun to shine and for there to be no rain," said the right-arm medium pacer, who learned swing bowling from current Pakistan Test captain Wasim Akram. Khan's bid to bag more than 22 wickets is however in danger with Holland one step away from being ousted from the competition. Holland's last two games in the quarterfinal round, against Ireland and Hong Kong have been affected by rain, resulting in the 1996 World Cup contestants languishing behind Bangladesh and Ireland in the race for semi-final two spots from group F. "If we don't qualify for the World Cup it will be because of the rain," said Khan, who is making his debut in the ICC Trophy here, and who made an immediate impact when he grabbed seven wickets for nine runs against East and Central Africa in Holland's first outing. The Africans were bowled out for 26 in only 15.2 overs another ICC Trophy record, surpassing the lowest total of 45 set by Israel against Denmark at the last tournament. "I knew we had created a new record by bowling them out cheaply but it was only later that I knew that I had also entered the record books," said Khan, a former Pakistan national team trialist. Source:: Dawn (http://xiber.com/dawn/) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)