South Africa v Bangladesh, fir

Photo: Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix

South Africa v Bangladesh, first ODI: Preview, head to head, team news and live stream

A series whitewash here would put the Proteas on top of the ODI rankings

South Africa v Bangladesh, fir

Photo: Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix

The recently concluded Test series between South Africa and Bangladesh may have been the easiest of walks in the park the home side could have hoped for. That’s if they were hoping to be hardly tested in their bid to reclaim top spot in the Test rankings, following their disastrous England tour.

The Proteas meet the Tigers again on Sunday, this time in coloured clothing, in the first of the three-match ODI series which starts in Kimberley. This is the format the visitors are expected to put up a stronger challenge in, having shown great improvement over the years in climbing up above sides like Sri Lanka and the Windies to seventh in the ICC ODI rankings.

Team news

They will be boosted by the return of their best all rounder in Shakib Al Hasan, alongside experienced ODI captain Mashrafe Mortaza. Opener Tamim Iqbal has been retained despite struggling with injury during the Test series.

The South Africans also have some big guns returning to action, most notably AB de Villiers who is back in the national side having sat out the Test series as well the world’s best bowler in Imran Tahir.

Also returning to action is JP Duminy who has not been seen in international cricket since the first Test against England at Lord’s. He has since retired from all First Class cricket.

Head to head

History is unkind to the visiting team – having lost all but one of their ODI’s against the Proteas played on South African soil. They have rain to thank for the one time they avoided defeat as the game played in East London nine years ago was abandoned without a ball being bowled.

However they registered their first series win against South Africa as recently as two years ago – albeit in their own background.

Squads

South Africa – Faf du Plessis (capt), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, David Miller, Wayne Parnell, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada.

Bangladesh – Mashrafe Mortaza (capt), Tamim Iqbal, Liton Das, Soumya Sarkar, Imrul Kayes, Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Sabbir Rahman, Nasir Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Rubel Hossain, Mohammad Saifuddin, Mominul Haque

Live stream

The game will be broadcast on SABC 3 and Supersport 2 (SS2) from 10:00