NEWS
Follow UsSouth Africa have named a three-pronged spin attack for their two-match series against Bangladesh in Bangladesh. The attack consists of left-arm spinners Keshav Maharaj and Senuran Muthusamy, along with USA-based off-spinner Dane Piedt.
Shukri Conrad, the Test coach of South Africa, said that the squad is “for the conditions we are expecting to greet us.”
Along with the three spinners, South Africa have named three proper pacers (Kagiso Rabada, Nandre Burger, and Dane Paterson) along with all-rounder Wiaan Mulder in the squad that will travel to Bangladesh soon. However, there has been no update on Lungi Ngidi as to why he wasn’t selected. Along with him, Anrich Nortje, Marco Jansen and Gerald Coetzee were also not considered for selection.
Matthew Breetzke, the 25 year old talented wicketkeeper batter, is the only uncapped player in the 15-member squad. However, he’ll find it hard to make it to the first Test in Dhaka since the batting order is already stacked up.
Earlier in the day, CSA confirmed the tour, making South Africa the first country to tour Bangladesh after the political turmoil in the South Asian nation.
This will be the first visit by any overseas sports team after the bloody student protest led toppling of the Awami League government where Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled the country. The Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 was shifted to UAE from Bangladesh after that political unrest.
The first Test will be played at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka from October 21 onwards while the second Test will be played at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram from October 29 onwards.
“A security assessment was recently conducted by CSA's Operations Manager, Team Security Manager, Safety and Security Consultant, and a representative of the South African Cricketers’ Association. CSA has given the series a go-ahead based on the recommendations made by the team post an in-loco inspection visit to Bangladesh,” CSA said in a press release.
“The Proteas Men will arrive in Dhaka on 16 October, ahead of their first Test match against Bangladesh. The squad will be announced later today,” it further added.
The Dhaka Test might mark the end of Bangladesh’s greatest all-format all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan’s Test career. He had earlier announced ahead of the Kanpur Test against India that he would like to hang his boots at his home ground of Dhaka.
Shakib’s security concerns back home in Bangladesh were earlier addressed by the country’s interim government’s sports advisoron Septmeber 29 (Sunday).
While Bangladesh are currently on a tour of India and struggling in the second Test having lost the first one, South Africa’s last Test series was against West Indies which they won 1-0.
South Africa squad: Temba Bavuma (capt), David Bedingham, Matthew Breetzke, Nandre Burger, Tony de Zorzi, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Dane Paterson, Dane Piedt, Kagiso Rabada, Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Kyle Verreynne (wk)
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