Bangladesh are considering playing former captain Mohammad Ashraful in the key World Cup game against Ireland that could make or break the co-hosts' campaign.The right-hander, Bangladesh's most successful one-day batsman, was a surprise omission for their opening match last Friday which India won by 87 runs at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium in Dhaka.Coach Jamie Siddons said the free-stroking Ashraful stood a good chance of playing against Ireland even as the Bangladeshi media reported the batsman had already been told he will take the field."There's a chance, but it's one of a few options we have," the Australian said. "We will consider all our options, one of which is also sticking to the same team and give everyone another chance."Ashraful has played 164 one-day internationals since his debut in 2001, scoring 3,360 runs with three centuries and 20 fifties.But his less than impressive average of 23.33 suggests Ashraful has not done justice to his immense talent, often frustrating supporters by getting out to rash strokes when he had the bowling attack at his mercy."I am an Ashraful fan and of course I'd like to see him play," said Siddons. "He has all the shots and could be effective during the powerplay overs.""He generally bats two down but we are thinking of using him in the number seven position if he plays."Ashraful could replace off-spinner Naeem Islam, or even seamer Rubel Hossain if Bangladesh prefer to attack Ireland with spin on the slow track.Bangladesh must beat both the non-Test nations, Ireland and the Netherlands, and one of the established sides from England, South Africa and the West Indies, to progress to the next round.Siddons admitted victory over Ireland would be the key to his team's progress in the tournament."It's a huge game, if we lose we are almost out," he said. "We didn't pencil in the India game, we wanted to give them a go, but we have pencilled in the Ireland game and West Indies as well.""We are confident and we think we can win."Bangladesh know only too well that Ireland, the leading non-Test side, are no pushovers.The gritty Irish defeated Bangladesh by 74 runs in the Super Eights round in the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean and then won by six wickets in the World Twenty20 in England in 2009.
