Bangladesh skipper Mohammad Ashraful [Images] believes his squad will emerge as a much tougher side at next month's Twenty20 World Cup after the players took part in a week-long military training camp.

The exercise, dubbed "commando training" in local media, ended on Thursday in a dense forest near Sylhet Garrison, some 350 km northeast of the capital Dhaka.

"Each and every player in the camp firmly believes that this hard training will make them tougher both mentally and physically," Ashraful told reporters during a break in the training.

Bangladesh Cricket Board took up the training programme for the first time after Major-General Sina Ibn Jamali of the Bangladesh army was appointed its president late last month.

The tough training included walking, hill climbing, chasing tigers (imaginary), hostage rescuing, abseiling and counseling.

The whole squad named for the tournament in South Africa, except Aftab Ahmed, have participated in the training, although middle order batsman Ahmed was allowed leave early because he was getting married.

"They (cricketers) are very intelligent and have learnt everything very quickly and easily," said Lt. Col Sirajul Islam, an army trainer for the squad.

Bangladesh will leave for South Africa on Aug. 29.