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Words from ADDS S.Africa stand-in captain Aiden Markram
Bangladesh captain Nazimul Hossain Shanto says his men are focused on the challenge against South Africa and not on absentee all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan ahead of the first Test in Mirpur on Monday. .
The two-Test series will be Bangladesh’s first international cricket match since a student-led revolution toppled authoritarian Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August.
The series brings points to the World Test Championship (WTC), with the final to be held in England next year. Currently, South Africa is in 6th place in the standings and Bangladesh is in 7th place.
Bangladesh called up uncapped left-arm spinner Hasan Murad to replace the retired Shakib after the former captain canceled his plans to return home due to safety concerns.
Shakib announced his retirement from international cricket last month but said he wanted to play his final red-ball series at home.
But the 37-year-old is also a former member of the government ousted by the revolution and has become the subject of public anger due to his ties to Hasina.
“Thinking too much about this will only be a waste of time, because we have no control over it,” Najmul told reporters on the eve of the match in Mirpur, near the capital Dhaka, on Sunday.
“These two Tests are very important for us…The players are preparing and focusing only on cricket.”
Stand-in captain Aiden Markram said the South African players were getting used to the “comfortable, hot and sweaty” conditions in Dhaka, but said there was little relief at the news they would not play Shakib.
“At the end of the day, they still have a very strong team and are very strong in home conditions as well,” Markram told reporters.
He said Bangladesh’s highly spin-prone wickets will be an additional “exciting challenge”.
“Spin is a big topic, especially since he’s from South Africa,” he said. “We don’t have that kind of situation at home.”
Bangladesh will start the series with Phil Simmons as their stand-in coach as Chandika Hathursinghe was suspended on Tuesday for misconduct charges which he denies.
Najmul said the former West Indies all-rounder was a “fantastic manager” but acknowledged that the new system would take time to settle in.
“He is trying to understand the environment in the dressing room,” Najmul said.
“But he’s new and we don’t know him very well either. Hopefully he can adjust over the next few games.”
The second Test will be held from October 29 in the port city of Chittagong, also known as Chittagram.
Bangladesh representative:
Nazimul Hossain Shanto (Captain), Shadman Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Zakir Hasan, Mominul Haq, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das, Jaykar Ali, Mehdi Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Naeem・Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmoud, Nahid Rana, Hasan Murad
South Africa representative:
Themba Bavuma (Capt), David Bedingham, Matthew Britske, Nandre Berger, Tony de Zorzi, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wyanne Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Dane Patterson, Dane Pete, Kagiso Rabada, Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton, Kyle Veraine
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