Bashar and Co arrive on Thursday

After fulfilling their target in the World Cup in the West Indies, their best-ever success in three appearances in the mega event, Bangladesh cricket team return home on Thursday morning.

Former national cricket captains are expected to receive the Tigers at the Zia International Airport after Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had requested their presence.

Habibul Bashar's men made the promise before leaving the country almost two months back that their main target was to qualify to the second round in the showpiece event and they have achieved it by beating India and Bermuda in the preliminary round.

Despite their heartbreaking 74-run loss against Ireland, the Tigers not only enhanced their reputation with a splendid 67-run win against the then-number one ranked South Africa at the Super Eights but also buried their bitter memories of 2003 World Cup as they are making a Tiger-like return.

Bangladesh won seven matches out of 13 since they reached the Caribbean in the last week of February including the triangular series and the build-up matches which also included the self-confident two-wicket victory against a full-strength New Zealand side.

The national cricketers will however get little rest as the crucial home series against India, who are scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on May 7, will start with the first one-dayer on May 10 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

Chief selector Faruque Ahmed, who is also with the team, will sit with his colleagues soon after the arrival as the BCB have already announced that they will announce the squad for the home series by April 30.

The board will also announce the names of the captain and his deputy for the series as Bashar's and Shahriar Nafees's assignment were till the World Cup.

The board high-ups already told that they will announce the names only after the selectors picked up the squad. There was a debate on Bashar's fate as a captain following his below-per performance in the tournament but it was learned that the most successful Bangladesh skipper may get another chance to decide his one-day career.

On the other hand, left-handed opener Nafees, who have been on a rich vein of form in the last year achieving the 1000-run mark in a calendar year, has his form concerning the think-tank.

Meanwhile, the cricket team will take part in a talk show in the Bangladesh Television this afternoon.

Former Bangladesh captain Roquibul Hassan will moderate the programme in the state-run television which will see a number of former national skippers participating in the panel of discussions. Besides, academy team players will also take part in the programme.

"They made us proud that's why it would be a reception," said Roquibul.