SA-BCB XI three-dayer

Sunday, February 17, 2008

The visiting South Africa open their campaign with a three-day practice match against Bangladesh Cricket Board XI starting at the Narayanganj Osmani Stadium today.
All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan will lead the BCB XI while wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim will act as his deputy.
Opening batsman Tamim Iqbal and former national skipper Habibul Bashar both are set to miss the match with finger injuries. National coach Jamie Siddons will be looking at every step of the match to choose the squad for the first Test starting from February 22.
Youngsters Junaed Siddique, Nazimuddin and Sajedul Islam will be eager to flourish in the match in order to impress the national selectors.
Both the teams had full fledged practice sessions at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Saturday.
Shakib al Hasan was looking forward to a decent performance.We have to put in our best performances to lift the spirit. The equation is simple, if we bat first we have to put on a good score and if we bowl first then we have to take ten wickets. All the players are ready to prove their worth, said the all-rounder captain.
South African coach Mickey Arthur was in an upbeat mood to describe his goals. It is the first match of the tour, a good start is very important, we will be looking for big scores when we bat and hope my bowlers will be among the wickets when they bowl, we will be coming out with all our strengths for a morale-boosting win and a good start to the tour.
Teams
BCB squad: Shakib Al Hasan (captain), Junaed Siddique, Shahriar Nafees, Nazimuddin, Rajin Saleh, Aftab Ahmed Chowdhury, Mushfiqur Rahim (vice-captain/wicketkeeper), Enamul Haque Jr, Sajedul Islam, Talha Jubaer, Farhad Reza, Syed Rasel, Roqibul Hassan.

South Africa squad: Graeme Smith (captain), Ashwell Prince, Hashim Amla, Johan Botha, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Paul Harris, Jacques Kallis, Neil McKenzie, Morne Morkel, Andre Nel, Makhaya Ntini, Dale Steyn.

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