By qualifying for next year's World Cup, Bangladesh came of age on the one-day international cricket stage.
Public reaction was nothing short of euphoric when the side qualified by winning last year's ICC Trophy tournament in Kuala Lumpur - dashing Hong Kong's slender hopes along the way.
Bangladesh fans were quick to predict the side, coached by West Indian batting legend Gordon Greenidge, would be next to graduate to the elite ranks of Test-playing countries.
However, in the Silver Jubilee Independence Cup, played in Dhaka, the national side did not fare particularly well, losing to Pakistan by nine wickets and India by four wickets.
If Bangladesh could not manage a creditable performance against their sub-continental peers, critics now argue, how could it hope to compete effectively in the 'big league'? The answer could well rest with the nation's under-19 team who played sensationally to win the Asia Youth Cup in Hong Kong last December and then in January the Plate final of the World Youth Cup in South Africa.
So while the national side look set to face more challenges next year, Greenidge is far more confident of prospects for the following World Cup in 2002 when the youngsters of today will be fully- fledged internationals.