The most commonly shouted word regarding the Bangladesh cricket team is undoubtedly 'consis-

tency'. It is now a matter of common consensus that the Tigers excel in all departments only on their day, a fact evidenced by their show in their successful World Cup campaign in the Caribbean.

Inconsistent batting is still a big headache for the team, a huge contrast to the bowling, but as an improving side what many hanker after is that Bangladesh should at least emerge as a consistent fielding side, an essential component for shorter-version success.

Undoubtedly the injection of new blood in the squad as well as the hard work by the experts saw a much-improved fielding side than in the last few years but still there are miles to go to achieve a high standard, like the Sri Lankans.

"We improved our fielding a lot but still there were ups and downs in this area. This is an area in which we can easily achieve the highest standard. We seem to lose the rhythm once opponents dominate the proceeding but it is something that should not happen. I think there exists a lack of mental toughness," admitted captain Habibul Bashar, who himself has his critics

when it comes to the fielding department.

A high standard effort will be needed if Bashar's men want to repeat their World Cup success against India during this month's three-match one-day series where the bowlers are set to get very little assistance from the expected batting paradise pitches.

But can Bangladesh come out with their best under the immense heat? "Just look at the boys how charged up they are in the training under such an immense heat," was the reply of Bashar.

Admitting the ups and downs fielding coach Mohammed Salahuddin, who has been working hard with the guys for last one and half years, however said that he has found lot of improvement in the World Cup after a fragile effort in Zimbabwe last year.

"I must say we are yet to reap the total result of our hard-work but I am not overall dissatisfied by the effort in the World Cup because we were not too bad except in the match against Ireland, " said Salahuddin.

"I think you will see a much better side in the coming series. There is immense heat but I think it was more or less the same in West Indies. Another advantage is our fielders struggled a bit in the big grounds in West Indies which is not the case this time," he added.

The effort against England also made the young coach happy as it has given him the belief that the boys finally understand that they

should excel in fielding as much as possible regardless of the conditions of the match.

"We are inconsistent because we fail to concentrate on every match but they did something different in that particular game which is really a good sign for the side," he said.

Salahuddin also explained reason behind the lack of a complete fielding side like his dream one -- Sri Lanka.

"There are some good fielders and some are not up to the mark because of their age. Speed is very important to become a good fielder but you can only achieve it if you have a satisfactory level of fitness. You can only ensure that a single would not be a double if you have the speed, " Salahuddin opined.

But the improvement of Shahriar Nafees, Syed Rasel and Shahadat Hossain has satisfied him most.

"Aftab, Shakib, Mashrafe and Ashraful all are very good fielders by nature. But what surprised me was the effort of Tamim in the World Cup because he had no reputation as a good fielder in the domestic circuit. Shahriar Nafees and Rasel also improved a lot. I think we are now shaping up to be a very good fielding side," he said.

"But we still have a long way to go to be regarded as a standard fielding side," observed Salahuddin, who is little bit concerned over the slip fielding for the Test series.