With the aim of continuing their recent surge in 50-over cricket, Bangladesh will lock horns with South Africa today in the first of three one-day internationals at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. The Tigers’ primary goal, however, will be to not repeat the mistakes they had committed in the 2-0 series loss in the Twenty20 internationals.
The hosts will also have another goal in mind when they shift their gears from the shortest format to their favourite one. Despite back-to-back series wins against India and Pakistan, the Tigers’ Champions Trophy berth became uncertain following the impromptu announcement of a tri-series involving hosts Zimbabwe, the West Indies and Pakistan. The Tigers therefore, will be desperate to register a positive performance against the Proteas and achieve qualification.
With 93 rating points, Bangladesh currently sit at seventh in the International Cricket Council’s ODI rankings and require one victory to retain or improve on their pre-series rating points. A 3-0 series sweep by the Proteas, however, will see the Tigers’ rating points drop to 90.
On the other hand, if the Tigers maintain their recent run of form and win the series, then they will cement their qualification in the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy in England. A 2-1 series win for the Tigers will take their rating points tally to 96 while it will elevate to 99 in case of a 3-0 series sweep.
In spite of the 2-0 defeat in the T20Is, Bangladesh’s confidence, derived from 13 victories in their last 17 ODIs, will enable them to approach the series in a positive frame of mind. The absence of champion batsman AB de Villiers, who was granted paternity leave by Cricket South Africa, will also aid the Tigers’ prospects.
New pace sensation Mustafizur Rahman extracted a lot of purchase from the wicket during the ODI series against India but the bite might be missing in the pitch this time around if the recent South Africa T20Is are anything to go by.
Heading into the South Africa ODIs, batting seems to be the Tigers’ main source of worry. The batsmen failed to address the match situation and conditions in the just-concluded T20Is. Even experienced campaigners like Tamim Iqbal, Shakib al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim failed to deliver the goods in either of the matches. The Proteas spinners, including Aaron Phangiso and Eddie Leie, troubled the opposition batsmen a great deal. And with the addition of world class leg-spinner Imran Tahir in the Proteas arsenal, the Bangladesh batsmen need to be on their toes.
Mushfiq, ranked 21st and currently the Tigers’ best batsman, will don the wicket-keeping gloves after a lot of distractions and confusion in recent times. Having recuperated fully from a right ring finger injury, Mushfiq will be expected to come up trumps in the middle-order.
The Proteas, on the other hand, will also have certain goals of their own. Today’s ODI will be their first since their heartbreaking loss to New Zealand in the 2015 ICC World Cup semi-final. They will be eager to post a win and forget that heart-rending defeat at Eden Park, Auckland once and for all.
Veteran cricketer Hashim Amla will lead the side in the absence of De Villiers. There is no Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander either, so Kyle Abbott and Morne Morkel will spearhead the pace-bowling department. Leie made a fantastic debut in the second T20I but given the weather, the inclusion of a second spinner in the starting XI is highly unlikely. According to forecast, there are chances of thunderstorms throughout the day.
The match will begin at 3pm and GTV and Star Sports 3 will telecast the game live.
Probable Bangladesh squad
Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim (WK), Shakib al Hasan, Sabbir Rahman, Nasir Hossain, Mashrafe bin Mortaza (C), Arafat Sunny, Jubair Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman.
Probable South Africa squad
Hashim Amla (C), Quinton de Kock (WK), Faf du Plessis, Rilee Rossouw, David Miller, JP Duminy, Farhaan Behardien, Wayne Parnell, Kyle Abbott, Morne Morkel, Imran Tahir.
