Bermuda?s national cricket team make history tomorrow when they step out onto the famous Antigua Recreation Ground to face old rivals Bangladesh who are fresh off a recent morale-boosting series win against Zimbabwe.

Tomorrow represents the first time the Island will lock horns with their former ICC Trophy rivals in an official One-Day International, and the first time the two countries have met since Bangladesh defeated Bermuda by 36 runs during the 1990 ICC Trophy tournament in Holland.

Bermuda?s sole victory to date over the Asian team, who were granted full Test status in 2000, arrived during the 1982 ICC Trophy in England. On that occasion the Island team thrashed their opponents by seven wickets.

Bangladesh have been pitted with Bermuda in Group B in next month?s World Cup preliminaries to take place in Trinidad and Tobago.

Bermuda skipper Irving Romaine is under no illusions as to the enormous task now facing his team, and cognisant of the fact that the road from herein to next month?s cricket spectacle will get tougher along the way.

?Every game we go into now is a big challenge. We just have to rebound after a terrible loss yesterday (Thursday) and come to play cricket. There?s no more easy games for us and everybody is gunning for it (World Cup). We just have to dig in mentally and show up to play cricket,? Romaine said.

Bermuda?s preparations for tomorrow?s match got off to the worst possible start when they lost a match that was theirs for the taking.

After dismissing hosts Antigua for a modest 139, Bermuda?s batsman failed to deliver with the bat and were eventually dismissed 24 runs shy of the target.

?They really bounced us out and I think we have to be more selective in our shots now and attack in different ways. We just need to dig in and concentrate on playing cricket. Everybody will have to take responsibility for their own game, and do what it is they have to do,? Romaine said.

?It?s really important for us to gain some momentum and respect going into the World Cup. So we will be really trying to do well and execute on the day.?

Bermuda take on Associate rivals Canada on Monday also at the Antigua Recreation Ground before departing for St.Vincent next week to intensify World Cup preparations.

Keeping with what has now become tradition, Bermuda coach Gus Logie declined to name his starting XI for tomorrow?s match.

Dean Minors and Clay Smith are again expected to continue their new role at the top of the batting order, while quickie Kevin Hurdle could share new ball duties with either Saleem Mukuddem or youngster Malachi Jones in the absence of injured pacer Stefan Kelly

Hard-hitting middle order bat Lionel Cann, who flew in yesterday, is expected to reclaim his spot at the expense of either Stephen Outerbridge or Kwame Tucker, one of only four Bermuda bats managing double figures in Thursday?s warm-up against Antigua.

Dwayne Leverock, who did not play on Thursday, youngster Delyone Borden and skipper Romaine himself will provide the spin bowling duties, while the likes of Janeiro Tucker and Cann are both capable of producing the goods with the old ball.

A travel-weary Canada team arrived in Antigua early yesterday morning. The Associate side, led by skipper John Davison, take on Antigua today at the Antigua Recreation Ground.