Nov. 15 — Seeking to snap a four-match losing streak and overcome challenging overseas conditions, Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and elected to bat first against South Africa in the opening Test of their two-match ICC World Test Championship series at the Wanderers Stadium on Sunday.
Opting to put runs on the board early in an effort to apply pressure on the Proteas in their backyard, Bangladesh named a bold playing XI featuring three frontline seamers and a lone spinner tailored to Johannesburg’s famously pace- and bounce-friendly surface.
The headline selection for the visitors is the Test debut of 22-year-old opening batter Mahfizul Islam, who became the 112th cricketer to represent Bangladesh in the longest format. Mahfizul earned his maiden red-ball call-up on the back of prolific domestic form in the ongoing National Cricket League (NCL), where he amassed 672 runs across 10 innings in five matches at an exceptional average of 74.66. He will partner Tanzid Hasan at the top of the order.
In the bowling department, express pacer Ebadot Hossain makes his long-awaited return to Test cricket following an extended injury layoff. He joins an in-form seam battery led by Taskin Ahmed and Hasan Mahmud, while all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz shoulders the primary spin duties alongside key lower-order batting responsibilities.
Entering the series on the heels of a disappointing home defeat to the West Indies and a historically difficult Test record on South African soil, the Tigers will rely heavily on senior batters Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, and skipper Shanto—supported by Litton Das and Towhid Hridoy—to withstand a formidable South African pace attack spearheaded by Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen.
Bangladesh Playing XI: Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), Tanzid Hasan, Mahfizul Islam, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Towhid Hridoy, Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain.
Source: Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) & International Cricket Dispatches, Johannesburg