Sports Reporter :
The first Test cricket match between the Tigers and South Africa (SA) will begin today at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium (SBNCS) in the capital’s Mirpur. The first day play will start at 9:30pm (Bangladesh Standard Time).
Private satellite sports channel T Sports and private satellite channel GTV will telecast the match live. Captain of Bangladesh Cricket team Najmul Hossain Shanto will lead his team, while stand-in Captain of South Africa Cricket team Aiden Markram will lead his team. Regular Captain of South Africa Temba Bavuma will not play the first Test due to injury.
The second Test match will take place at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram from October 29 to November 2. The two Test-match series is part of ICC World Test Championship.
Before today’s match, Bangladesh and South Africa faced each other in 14 Test matches. Of them, the Proteas won 12 Test matches, while two occasions ended in draws.
Before starting the match, there was unrest at the outside of the ‘Home of Cricket’ since Wednesday last. But the law-enforcement agency interrupted against the angry mob yesterday, so the situation is under control and the first Test between the Tigers and Proteas will take place today.
Members of Bangladesh Cricket team and South Africa Cricket team took part their respective practice sessions on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Cricket Board sacked head coach Chandika Hathurusingha recently. The BCB has appointed Phil Simmons as the interim head coach of Bangladesh Cricket team. It will be the first assignment for the West Indian-born Bangladesh coach.
Captain of Bangladesh Cricket team Najmul Hossain Shanto spoke at a press conference at the conference room of SBNCS on Sunday.
Shanto said, ” The situation is not totally fair for the game. But he is interested to give his attention for the match. I am not thinking about the situation. I want to focus the game. The two Test matches will be very important for us. We have taken preparation and we want to give attention to the upcoming matches.”
He said, ” We could not win against South Africa before the two-Test series. So, it will be a great chance for us to win against them as we play at our home soil.”
“South Africa are good side and they have a good number of experienced players. Spinners usually act crucial for the matches here. If our spinners can act properly, we shall earn a good result,” he added.
Bangladesh Test squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Mahmudul Hasan, Zakir Hasan, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Hasan Murad, Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Nahid Rana, Jaker Ali, Hasan Mahmud and Taskin Ahmed.
South Africa Test squad: David Bedingham, Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Tony de Zorzi, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram (Captain), Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Dane Paterson, Dane Piedt, Kagiso Rabada, Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton and Kyle Verreynne.
