Mushfiqur eyes landmark South Africa series
Bangladesh captain admits missing Shakib will be a setback
Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim said yesterday his team were looking for a “landmark” series against South Africa when they play two Test matches there later this month.
A 15-man Bangladesh squad left Dhaka yesterday for the series, which will start with the first Test at Potchefstroom on September 28.
“Some people may think we don’t have any chance against South Africa. But I don’t agree with them,” Mushfiqur told reporters prior to their departure.
“We don’t have a very good record in South Africa. And very few of our players played in South Africa. It is a kind of place where everybody struggles. Maybe we also have to struggle,” he said.
“Personally I think if you don’t believe in yourself, you won’t get any success. Firstly, we have to believe that it is possible for us to beat South Africa. We did not have this belief even three years ago,” he added.
Bangladesh lost all four Tests in South Africa by an innings margin during their previous two visits in 2002 and 2008, but Mushfiqur said they were now in much better shape.
“So we have now got the confidence. Hopefully, this series will be a kind of landmark for us. And we are ready to take that challenge.
“If we can play well the two Tests overseas that will be a kind of message,” he said.
Mushfiqur, however, said the absence of star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan is a setback for the side.
Shakib will sit out two Test matches after asking for a sixmonth break from Tests.
“You need to play two players in his place, to be honest — one batsman, one bowler ... for me as a captain his absence is a kind of setback,” he said.