Bangladesh-SA 2nd Test begins today

Bangladesh will face hosts South Africa in the 2nd Test of their two-match series at the pace-friendly bouncy pitch of Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein starting today (Friday), reports UNB.

The match will begin at 2pm (Bangladesh time) without the presence of the Tigers dashing opener Tamim Iqbal who was ruled out of this Test for left thigh injury.

All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has already been absent from this Test series.

Bangladesh will be without their two highest run-getters for the first time since March 2013, when both missed the Galle Test against Sri Lanka.

Tamim's unavailability has opened the door for Soumya Sarkar to return to the top of the order while Subashis Roy can replace Taskin Ahmed in the pace department.

South Africa will take the ground aiming to a clean sweep as the Tigers started the series with a 333-run defeat -- the 3rd-largest margin defeat for Bangladesh -- scoring 90 runs in the 2nd innings which is the lowest score of matches played outside the subcontinent.

Bangladesh toured South Africa twice before for two-Test series each in 2002 and 2008, and suffered innings defeats in all four matches. But this time they escaped innings defeat showing the best in the 1st Test achieving their highest total 320 runs in an innings in South Africa which was only six short of their highest against South Africa anywhere.

Bangladesh drew in two games at home against the Proteas in July 2015 and lost on nine occasions in their 11th encounters since 2002.

Bangladesh best XI (probable): Imrul Kayes, Soumya Sarkar, Mominul Haque, Mahmudullah Riyad, Mushfiqur Rahim (captain), Sabbir Rahman, Liton Kumar Das (wk), Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Shafiul Islam, Mustafizur Rahman and Subashis Roy.

South Africa best XI (probable): Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Faf du Plessis (captain), Quinton de Kock (wk), Andile Phehlukwayo, Wayne Parnell/Dane Paterson, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada and Duanne Olivier.