Bangladesh arrive for Proteas Tests with their strongest squad yet

Bangladesh land in South Africa on Tuesday for a two-Test series against the Proteas, and IOL reports that they have arguably their best opportunity of winning a Test here. Their record in the country is poor: they have lost all eight Tests across four tours in 2002, 2008, 2017 and 2022, five of them by an innings.

A tougher visitor than in 2022

When the sides last met in a Test series, in 2022, South Africa won 2-0. The Proteas took the first Test at Kingsmead by 220 runs and the second at St George’s Park by 332 runs. Keshav Maharaj took 16 wickets in that series and Simon Harmer took 13.

Bangladesh have since made progress. In August they beat Australia by nine wickets in Darwin, their first Test win on Australian soil. Australia levelled the two-match series with an innings-and-51-run win in Mackay, where Bangladesh’s batting collapsed. IOL notes that consistency is still a work in progress. Bangladesh also drew a home Test against the West Indies in Sylhet.

Players to watch

Najmul Hossain Shanto, who captained in Australia, will lead again. The batting core includes Mushfiqur Rahim, Mominul Haque and Litton Das, while Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam are the key all-rounder and left-arm spinner.

Towhid Hridoy is the name to follow. He scored an unbeaten 350 for Bangladesh A against South Africa A at Potchefstroom, the highest first-class score by a Bangladeshi batter. He then made 242 not out and 82 against the West Indies in Sylhet. That gave him 324 runs in the match, the first Bangladesh batter to pass 300 in a single Test.

Two players could add something new:

• Mahfijul Islam, 22, earns a first Test call-up after passing 1,000 first-class runs in 19 appearances.
• Mohammad Naim returns after a four-year absence.

The tourists have five seamers in Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam, Ebadot Hossain and Khaled Ahmed. Malibongwe Maketa, who was Proteas assistant coach from 2017 to 2019, joined their coaching staff as assistant coach in October.

Fixtures and what to expect

The World No 1-ranked Proteas will start as favourites at home. IOL points out that Bangladesh’s A team lost heavily to South Africa A earlier this year, so adapting to the bounce and movement remains a challenge.

• 1st Test: Wanderers Stadium, 15 to 19 November 2026
• 2nd Test: SuperSport Park, 23 to 27 November 2026

Fans planning to attend should note the Johannesburg Test starts on Sunday 15 November, with the Centurion match following the next week.

This story is based on reporting by IOL.