'Will miss Shakib badly'

This will be the first time that Shakib Al Hasan will not be a part of the Test team since the 2014 series in West Indies when he was serving a six-month suspension because of disciplinary issues.

Interestingly, despite being in superb form, scoring 665 runs and picking up 29 wickets in his last seven Tests, the all-rounder has asked for a break of six months from Test cricket, which the BCB partially granted by excusing him from the two-Test series in South Africa.

The 30-year-old has been instrumental in Bangladesh's recent longer-version successes, be it the drawn series against England last year, his century in the victory in the 100th Test in Sri Lanka and his stellar all-round show in the recent maiden Test win over Australia.

According to Mushfiqur Rahim it is not good news for him as captain of the Test side and informed that the premier all-rounder's absence in the team will certainly create a gap in all three departments on their upcoming, challenging tour of South Africa.

"Obviously I am not happy, being the captain of the side," Mushfiqur told The Daily Star yesterday. "But as he asked for a break to have some rest from his workload, that's his personal decision which I also respect. At the same time, if he was injured we would have had to play without him, so that's part of life," he added.

Shakib, who has played 51 Tests, scored 3,594 runs and picked up 188 wickets was instrumental both with bat and ball when Bangladesh last toured South Africa for a two-match Test series back in 2008 when he picked up 11 wickets and scored 118 runs.

However, Mushfiqur thought that the return of Mahmudullah Riyad, who was recalled to the Test side after being left out of the 100th Test in Sri Lanka, will certainly add some experience to the Bangladesh line-up.

"The inclusion of Riyad Bhai will add some experience to our side as he is a very seasoned campaigner for us. But still I would say Shakib is Shakib, and we are going to miss him badly," Mushfiqur said.

The Tigers Test skipper also informed that the South Africa tour will be a challenging one for Bangladesh, and opined that the players will have to show their character in the testing conditions.