Hours to go. It will be a dream come true. Bangladesh play the World Cup.

Millions of eyes thousands of miles away from Chelmsford get glued to television sets Monday when Bangladesh skipper Aminul Islam along with New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming step onto the County ground for the toss.

Maybe, the low-rated match is not so important making one for the prestigious Test-playing nations. Even, not for Bangladesh's rivals Kiwis, who are confident for super-six of the World Cup.

But this is the moment for what a nation had waited for more than a decade - a grand occasion for which millions of people carpeted a single dream altogether.

Bangladesh debut to the highest cricketing show on the earth. Excitement grips the entire nation.

An upset by Aminul and Co. against Fleming's boys will be a great plus. But, in all ecstasies, people are satisfied enough only to watch their countrymen in action. Because, it is the World Cup where only elite Test nations and top three cricket teams among the ICC-associate countries could play.

Bangladesh qualified being the champions among the associate members by clinching the ICC Trophy in Kuala Lumpur in 1997 amid great scenes of euphoria. The maiden berth to the 1999 World Cup was confirmed when Bangladesh defeated Scotland in the semi-finals. Then they went on to Kenya in the nerve-wrecking last-ball deciding final.

The success brought One-day status for Bangladesh along with runners-up Kenya. And Bangladesh are now the strong contenders for ICC full member status.

Unlike the last occasion of the ICC, the 1994 event was a heartbreaking affair for Bangladesh when they reached the second round, but were eliminated finishing third in their group, behind Kenya and The Netherlands.

With that elimination also got exterminated Bangladesh's hopes to play the World Cup although for the first time the ICC had decided to pick up three associate members in the cricketing extravaganza.

In 1982 and 90 when only one associate member could qualify for the World Cup, Bangladesh missed the flights as on both occasion they were defeated in the semi-finals by Zimbabwe, who ultimately attained the Test status in 1992.

Bangladesh played in their first ICC Trophy in 1979 when they finished third in their group, behind Denmark and Canada. Bangladesh's 1986 campaign was most disastrous as they won only two of their six group matches.

But now? Bangladesh, with the ICC crown, is going to make a debut in the World Cup Monday.