Match Center

The Asian subcontinent is buzzing with Test match action with Pakistan taking on England, India facing New Zealand, and now it's Bangladesh's turn to host South Africa for a two-match series. The first Test will take place at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, followed by the second Test in Chattogram. Even before the first ball is bowled, there’s already plenty of drama and tension surrounding the series. Initially, doubts arose about whether the series would happen due to civil unrest in the country in the recent past. Following clearance from Cricket South Africa, attention has shifted to the availability of Shakib Al Hasan, who will miss the first Test due to security issues stemming from protests against him. This development is even more significant as Shakib had expressed his desire to retire from Test cricket after this match, making it a potential end to his illustrious Test career. Adding to the drama, Bangladesh will compete under interim coach Phil Simmons after the termination of Chandika Hathurusinghe's contract due to disciplinary reasons. Amid this upheaval, Najmul Hossain Shanto will need to lead by example. The batting group left much to be desired during their recent series loss against India, so seasoned players like Litton Das, Mominul Haque, and Mushfiqur Rahim must leverage their experience to perform well in home conditions. The pace trio of Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana, and Taskin Ahmed showed flashes of brilliance during recent away tours of India and Pakistan and will be crucial to the hosts' chances in the series, even though spin is expected to dominate. With Shakib absent, Mehidy Hasan will spearhead the spin attack which consists of Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, and Hasan Murad. As for South Africa, they also have a key absentee in captain Temba Bavuma, who will miss the opener due to a muscle strain in his left triceps. In his absence, Aiden Markram will lead the side, and his proficiency against spin will be vital. Tristan Stubbs has demonstrated the ability to excel in red-ball cricket, complementing his white-ball exploits, making him another pivotal figure in the tourists' batting unit. The absence of Bavuma, coupled with an injury concern surrounding Tony de Zorzi, may see two of Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, and Ryan Rickelton feature in the playing XI. On the bowling front, Kagiso Rabada will lead the pace attack, supported by Lungi Ngidi and all-rounder Wiaan Mulder as other seam options. Keshav Maharaj will head the spin department, accompanied by Dane Piedt, while the Proteas might contemplate adding an extra spinner in the form of Senuran Muthusamy if conditions demand. Moving on to the World Test Championship standings, Bangladesh's hopes of reaching the final have taken a severe blow after their 2-0 loss to India. With two Tests remaining at home against South Africa and two away against the West Indies, Bangladesh are in a must-win situation. Even if they manage to win all four Tests, it still wouldn’t guarantee them a spot in the WTC final. On the other hand, South Africa are in a much better position. They have six Tests left in their WTC campaign - two in Bangladesh and four at home, where they will face Sri Lanka and Pakistan in a two-match series each. If the Proteas can secure a 2-0 win in Bangladesh, they will be well-placed to make a strong push for the final during their home season. With all these variables in play, the series is set to be a captivating contest filled with intrigue and intense competition. Who are you backing to land the first blow?