With Bangladesh set to tour South Africa for a full-fledged series, including two ICC World Test Championship matches in November, the ongoing ‘A’ team tour was seen as a key opportunity for players pushing for Test selection.
Instead, the first four-day match in Pretoria exposed major concerns over Bangladesh’s red-ball depth as they suffered an innings-and-413-run defeat to South Africa ‘A’ after being comprehensively outplayed across all departments.
Despite featuring Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Zakir Hasan, Mahidul Islam Ankon and Shahadat Hossain Dipu -- players regarded as national team’s red-ball backups who have been around the Test setup for years -- Bangladesh were bowled out for 122 and 112, lasting only 44.3 and 32.2 overs.
The batting display was particularly alarming. No Bangladeshi batter faced 60 balls in either innings, with Mohammad Naim’s 56-ball 30 the longest stay. The match was a major opportunity for Joy and Zakir to push their claims for the opening slots after Shadman Islam struggled in Australia, but their failures have raised further questions over Bangladesh’s options at the top.
South Africa ‘A’, meanwhile, made full use of the same surface, declaring on 647 for six after Marques Ackerman and Sinethemba Qeshile registered double centuries.
Bangladesh’s bowling also struggled. With limited pace options, Al Fahad made his first-class debut alongside Anamul Haque and Iqbal Hossain Emon, while experienced spinners Nayeem Hasan and Hasan Murad conceded 152 and 215 runs respectively, with Nayeem taking just one wicket.
“I don’t want to give any excuses. There are several international players in the side, but they couldn’t do justice to their merit,” Bangladesh ‘A’ batting coach Rajin Saleh told The Daily Star.
“We had six national players like Zakir, Ankon and others, and if we play so badly, one or two players should have scored a hundred, or at least two players should have scored fifties,” he added, while also pointing to unfamiliar conditions and limited preparation for a four-day match.
Chief selector Habibul Bashar described the performance as “disappointing” but said Bangladesh were “not alarmed”.
“As a lot of teams are currently playing, we have to face hurdles in balancing those teams,” Bashar said while travelling with the national team from Brisbane to Dhaka.
The former Bangladesh captain identified bowling as a weakness but said the batters were “the future players” and that the match was an opportunity, especially for Joy, to prepare.
Bangladesh have made several changes for the second four-day match, bringing in Parvez Hossain Emon, Towhid Hridoy, Rejaur Rahman Raja, Jaker Ali, Mushfiq Hasan, Nurul Hasan, Rishad Hossain and Saifuddin. Selector Nadif Chowdhury said injuries to Zakir, Dipu and Iqbal, along with visa issues affecting Ankon and Anamul, prompted the changes.
Bangladesh ‘A’ will hope for a stronger response in the next hurdle, starting on August 30 at Senwes Park in Potchefstroom.
“I think they will turn it around in the second match. Yes, we have a Test series in South Africa and if they can do that, it will be good for them and the national team as well,” Rajin concluded.
