Follow UsSouth Africa will be without Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Marco Jansen, Anrich Nortje, Rassie van der Dussen and Aiden Markram in the forthcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh, starting Thursday (March 31), and all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan is hopeful of making the most of this opportunity.
The aforementioned South African players will feature in the Indian Premier League 2022 and have been allowed by the board to give this Test series a miss. Meanwhile, Bangladesh will also be high on confidence after winning their first ODI series in South Africa. However, Bangladesh will be without Shakib at least in the first Test as the 35-year-old returned home on March 24 for a family emergency but could be back for the second Test.
"I think Test series will be more challenging. For five to seven years, we have been a good ODI unit, and we all know that in ODIs we play cricket on true wickets and whoever does well will win the game. In Tests, teams take advantage of their condition but as some of their main players are missing we can be hopeful," Shakib was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.
Bangladesh have played six away Tests against South Africa and have lost every single one of them, with five of those defeats by an innings. However, Bangladesh recently won a Test in New Zealand and Shakib feels that will give his team some much-needed confidence.
“Look our pace bowlers are doing well and due to that we won the Test against New Zealand. The team management and players have a lot of confidence over the pace bowlers and they are repaying back their faith.”
Bangladesh have quite a few former South African players in their coach staff - Russell Domingo (head coach), Allan Donald (fast bowling coach) and Albie Morkel (power hitting coach) for the ODIs - and Shakib believes they have made a huge difference.
“Because they (South African coaching members) are from there, they had a good idea about their home condition and they shared it with us which was very helpful. We could know about the mindset carried in their (South African) dressing room and we planned accordingly and it worked.”
Four members of Shakib's family are in hospital with different ailments and the all-rounder is scheduled to land in Dhaka on Thursday. Bangladesh ODI captain Tamim Iqbal heaped heavy praise on Shakib for playing the third and final ODI and helping Bangladesh win the series 2-1.
"It takes a very big heart to endure what Shakib is going through. Not many people could have done it. There would be nothing wrong to want to be with one's family in such a situation. For me his performance wasn't important. But the dedication that he showed, it was the most important thing. I am telling you. Four or five members of his family are in the hospital. He is still playing and smiling with the team. It takes a big heart," Tamim was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.