Bangladeshi players will get 2,000 dollars each for winning a first-round match in next month's World Cup in the Caribbean, the cricket board announced on Sunday.

The team will play three group matches in the opening round, against former world champions India and Sri Lanka, and first-timers Bermuda. The top two sides will advance to the next, Super Eight, round.

Bangladeshi cricketers will also receive 3,000 dollars each if they qualify for the Super Eight stage, the board said in a statement.

The bonuses are aimed at spurring on the Bangladesh cricket team in their third World Cup, it added.

Bangladesh have never gone beyond the preliminary round since making their Cup debut in 1999 in England. They have won just two of their 11 games.

They failed to win a single match in the 2003 tournament in South Africa, losing even to non-Test-playing nation Canada in their opening game.

(Article: Copyright © 2007 AFP)