Also read: Bangladesh draw three-day warm-up against CSA XI
But South African conditions are a different challenge as far as bowling is concerned. Fast bowlers need to take the baton from the spinners during this tour and will have to play the leading role if Bangladesh are to produce positive results. “We, the pacers have to bowl really well in this condition. There might be less spin in the wicket so we, the pacers have to step up and take the responsibility. Because I believe if pacers can’t bowl well here then it would be impossible to fight in the match,” Taskin explained.“Accuracy, consistency and patience are important for a bowler to get success in Test cricket. Although we are a little bit inexperienced as I have played only four Tests and Mustafizur [Rahman] only six Tests. But I believe we are training well and we have tried to bring good outcome whenever we played in this short career. Actually thinking is very important. We are training under Courtney Walsh, [Chandika] Hathurusingha and other good coaches. Hopefully we will bring good result. “South Africa are a quality side, in both batting and bowling. Morne Morkel and Kagiso Rabada are very good bowlers. Obviously they will get extra advantage due to home condition. And their batting is world-class. We need to maintain tight line and length against them,” he added.
There are some injury concerns, chiefly opener Tamim Iqbal, who did not bat in the second innings in their three-day warm-up game against Cricket South Africa XI. Taskin hopes the left-handed batsman will be fit before the first Test. Bangladesh are also missing their star all-rounder Shakib al Hasan, who has taken a break from Test cricket for the time being. “Tamim bhai will be fit, hopefully before the first Test. And as for Shakib bhai, he is always a big player for Bangladesh. I hope this break will be helpful for him and he will back to the team soon,” he said. Bangladesh played their three-day practice match at Willowmoore Park in Benoni. Among the batsmen, Imrul Kayes, Mominul Haque and Test skipper Mushfiqur Rahim got fifties. Sabbir Rahman scored half-centuries in both innings.Tamim Iqbal and Soumya Sarkar are fit for the first Test, says team physio Thihan Chandramohan. pic.twitter.com/2mcZ8Bh8Ki
— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) September 23, 2017
Also read: Tamim, Soumya will be fit for first SA Test, says Bangladesh physio
And the bowlers got the chance to bowl in one innings. Among the pace bowlers, Mustafizur, Subashish Roy and Taskin bagged one wicket apiece while Shafiul Islam picked up two. Another paceman of the squad, Rubel Hossain did not take part in the warm-up game as he arrived in South Africa late due to visa complication. But Rubel finally arrived in South Africa on Saturday and will train with the squad Tuesday. The Bangladesh team moved to Potchefstroom from Johannesburg Sunday afternoon. The players did not practise Sunday and passed time relaxing.
