The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Newly announced 17-member Bangladesh cricket team began practice Saturday at the indoor facility of Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium (SBNS) ahead of their home series against South Africa.

All the members of the squad joined the first day's camp. Three more players -- reserves Nazimuddin and Talha Jubair, and Roukibul Hasan from the warm-up match squad -- also took part in the training session.

National coach Jamie Siddons supervised the day's camp. Assistant coach Shaun Williams and trainer Shane Mcdermott also assisted the coach.

During a break in the practice session, skipper Mohammad Ashraful said, "We played practice matches in three teams from the very first of this month so that we could adjust ourselves with the wicket. But, unfortunately we were unable to become successful as there were problem's in our batting."

The ace batsman thinks that the three-day warm-up match before the test series will give some opportunity to the batsmen to get rid of their problems.

Asked what would be his team's plan while facing teams like South Africa, he said, "We know that South Africa are usually used to play on seeming and bouncy wicket, but here they'll find slow and turning wicket, which may create some problems for them."

Left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak Raj said, "Normally our spinners do well but it's not always right to think that the spinners will get preference from slow and turning wicket. Sometimes, the opposite thing can also happen."

They would try to get advantage from the home series, he said adding, "Every match will be a total team game and all of us will have to work hard. If we can put up a good score then that would be easier for our bowlers to dominate the opponents."

South Africa will arrive here on February 14 on a month-long trip to play three ODIs and two tests.

The Proteas will begin their tour with a test match February 22-26 at the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium (SBNS) while the 2nd test will be held at the Bir Shreshtha Ruhul Amin Stadium (BSRAS) in Chittagong Feb 29-March 4.

The 1st ODI between the two sides will also be held at the BSRAS on March 9, the 2nd and the 3rd ODIs on March 12 and 14 at the SBNS.

Bangladesh Squad: Mohammad Ashraful (Captain), Habibul Bashar, Aftab Ahmed, Zunaed Siddiqui, Tamim Iqbal, Shahriar Nafees, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza (vice-captain), Shahadat Hossain Rajib, Mushfiqur Rahim, Sajedul Islam, Shakib Al Hasan, Rajin Saleh, Farhad Reza, Abdur Razzak, Enamul Haque Jr., Mohammed Rafique and Syed Rasel.

Reserves - Khaled Mashud, Nazim Uddin, Talha Jubaer, Dollar Mahmud, Mahmudullah Riyad and Mosharraf Hossain Rubel.