Bangladesh head to South Africa without a break, first Test on 15 November

As soon as the Test series against the West Indies ended, a new challenge awaited Bangladesh. After finishing the two-match home series, the cricketers are getting no chance to rest. The Bangladesh team will leave for South Africa tomorrow, Tuesday.

According to BCB sources, 13 cricketers and the head coach, 16 members in total, will travel in the first group. Their flight is at 2:20pm. The remaining members of the team will travel on 11 November.

The series against the West Indies ended on Monday with the second Test in Sylhet drawn. After losing the first Test in Mirpur by eight wickets and drawing the second match, the Caribbean side won the series 1-0.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced the 16-member Test squad for the South Africa tour while the Sylhet Test was still going on. Bangladesh are travelling to South Africa with that squad.

The team is getting very little time to prepare before the tour. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto also admitted that there is almost no opportunity to prepare.

Shanto said, 'To be honest, there is no opportunity to prepare for South Africa. We have to prepare mentally as much as possible. Maybe we will get one or two days to practise.'

He added, 'I believe we can play good cricket there too. We have to compete. They are also a good team. But with the bowling unit we have, if we can give our best there, inshallah we will finish the series well.'

On the South Africa tour, Bangladesh will play two Tests along with three ODIs and three T20Is. The Test squad has been announced, but the selectors have not yet announced the squads for the two limited-overs formats.

Young batter Mahfizul Islam Robin has been called up for the first time in the announced 16-member Test squad. Naim Sheikh has returned to the Test team after four years. Mominul Haque has also returned to the side.

Sadman Islam missed out because of injury. Naim Hasan, on the other hand, has been dropped from the last Test series squad.

The first Test of this series, part of the World Test Championship, will begin on 15 November at the Wanderers in Johannesburg. The second Test will begin on 23 November in Centurion.

After the Test series, the three-match ODI series will begin on 1 December at Buffalo Park in East London. The second ODI will be on 4 December at St George's Park in Gqeberha, and the third and final ODI on 7 December at Newlands in Cape Town.

Then the two teams will meet in the first T20I on 10 December at Kimberley Oval. The second match is on 12 December at Willowmoore Park in Benoni. The tour will end with the third and final T20I on 13 December at SuperSport Park in Centurion.

The announced Test squad includes Najmul Hossain Shanto (captain), Naim Sheikh, Mahfizul Islam Robin, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Mominul Haque, Tawhid Hridoy, Liton Kumar Das, Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (vice-captain), Hasan Mahmud, Taijul Islam, Shoriful Islam, Mushfiqur Rahim and Taskin Ahmed.