Tigers ready for SA test
The Tigers will take on Cricket South Africa Invitation XI in their tour opening three-day match today to acclimatise with the conditions before the challenging two-match Test series begins next week.
The match will be held at the Willowmoore Park in Benoni and the Bangladesh team management has decided to give everyone a chance against an opposition which has consisted largely of South Africa's academy players and a few franchise players.
"Everybody will play this match as our main objective is to adjust to the conditions. The cricketers have practiced hard here for the past three days and we are hopeful that they will make the most of the practice match. Unfortunately Rubel [Hossain] will miss the chance but we are hopeful he will join [the team] very soon," chief selector Minhajul Abedin informed over phone from Benoni.
"The facilities here are fantastic and the weather is like what we enjoy in December in our country, so everything is going fine and we are looking forward to making a confident start ahead of the first Test," he added.
The first Test of the two-match series will start from September 28 at the Senwes Park in Potchefstroom and Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim told local media yesterday that his team were raring to go.
"I think it will be a great series. All the boys are doing well and are ready to go and we are hopeful that we can put up a great show. And probably confidence will be on our side," the wicketkeeper-batsman said.
He added that the Tigers' main purpose on this tour was to prove that they are also a good team away from home.
"Bangladesh have been playing brilliant cricket in the last couple of years in all three formats. While we are playing at home, we are pretty confident and the consistency is also there. Recently we have beaten Australia at home but it won't be easy playing against South Africa in their home conditions. So this is our next step and we also want to do well abroad. And that is the next challenge we have and we would like to overcome that," the skipper said, adding that he believed playing in South African conditions would be great experience for his young guns.
Replying to a question, the Bangladesh skipper said that South Africa were a dangerous side on home soil regardless of the fact that they recently lost to England and have a new coach in Ottis Gibson.
"When you are playing in your own conditions you know what the pitches do and what the conditions [are]. Although they lost to England I think they are a dangerous side. As you said they have a new coach but he is pretty old in international cricket. However we are looking forward to playing some great cricket against South Africa."
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