Bangladesh choose to bowl first, no Tamim, Shariful

Bangladesh players leave the field as start of play is delayed due to a technical malfunction of a digital sign board ahead of the first day of the first Test cricket match between South Africa and Bangladesh at the Kingsmead stadium in Durban on 31 March 2022AFP

Bangladesh skipper Mominul Haque won the toss and choose to bowl first in the first game of the two-match Test series against South Africa at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium in Durban, South Africa on Thursday.

As a big blow to Bangladesh team line-up, opener Tamim Iqbal was rested because of stomach ache while pacer Shoriful Islam was rested due to minor niggles.

Ryan Rickleton and Lizaad Williams made debut for South Africa in the match while Simon Harmer made a comeback after seven years. He last played in a Test match in 2015.

Tiger captain Mominul said they are more experienced side and hoped to play accordingly. He also hoped pacers would lead Bangladesh in the match.

Teams

Bangladesh: 1 Mominul Haque, 2 Shadman Islam, 3 Mahmudul Hasan Joy, 4 Najmul Hossain Shanto, 5 Mushfiqur Rahim, 6 Yasir Ali, 7 Litton Das (wk), 8 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 9 Taskin Ahmed, 10 Khaled Ahmed, 11 Ebadot Hossain

South Africa: 1 Dean Elgar, 2 Sarel Erwee, 3 Kegan Petersen, 4 Temba Bavuma, 5 Ryan Rickleton, 6 Kyle Verreynne (wk), 7 Wiaan Mulder, 8 Keshav Maharaj, 9 Simon Harmer, 10 Lizaad Williams, 11 Duanne Olivier