Pretoria, South Africa

South Africa have been dealt a blow ahead of the opening Test match against hosts Bangladesh after skipper Temba Bavuma was ruled out of the Dhaka contest on Friday (Oct 11). Bavuma is reportedly out due to a muscle strain but will still be part of the travelling contingent. On the other hand, Dewald Brevis ‘baby AB de Villiers’ has earned his maiden call-up to the Test side having previously played for the T20I side.

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Bavuma out for Proteas

With the two-match Test series against Bangladesh starting on Monday (Oct 21), South Africa will be without their skipper Bavuma. The right-hand batter is enduring a pain in his muscle which will see him stay away from action. In his absence, Aiden Markram will lead the side against Bangladesh in the Dhaka Test.

The Proteas are eyeing vital points in the World Test Championship (WTC) standings with hopes of the final still in hand. Bangladesh on the other hand come into the series on the back of a defeat to India having lost the Test series 2-0 against Rohit Sharma’s men. They had earlier beaten Pakistan on their own turf in what was a historic win for the side.

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Brevis earns maiden call-up

One of the talented young batters on the cards in South Africa, Brevis is on the Test side for the first time. The batter first came on the scene in the 2022 U-19 World Cup and helped South Africa reach the quarterfinal of the tournament. Brevis has previously represented South Africa in two T20I matches with a Test cap now likely for him.

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South Africa squad:

Temba Bavuma (c), David Bedingham, Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Tony de Zorzi, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Dane Paterson, Dane Piedt, Kagiso Rabada, Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton, Kyle Verreynne.