Sports Reporter :The Tigers will face in-form South Africa in the first One Day International (ODI) match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium (SBNCS) in Mirpur today (Friday).BTV and GTV will telecast the match live from 3.00 pm.Hosts Bangladesh crushed Pakistan 3-0 in the three-match ODI series which concluded recently.Then Bangladesh won over tourists India 2-1 in the three-match ODI series which held recently. Bangladesh took part in their practice session at the SBNCS on Thursday.Captain of Bangladesh team Mashrafe Bin Mortaza said, “South Africa are stronger than Pakistan and as well as India. Though the Proteas took the top spot in ODI ranking they could not clinch the World Cup. As a team they are however really challenging.”Mashrafe said, “Facing pace as well as spin attacks of South Africa is a very tough task. South Africa have spinner like Imran Tahir who is a good spinner and fairing now he is in a good form. We have to perform according to our game plan to face their bowling attack.”He said, “Our target is to complete the series with a happy note. Tomorrow (Friday) we shall try to show a good performance against them.”Captain of South Africa Hashim Amla said, “Bangladesh showed a consistent performance for a couple of months. I have watched the last two ODI series of Bangladesh. I know Bangladesh usually play better in ODI format than Twenty20 format. We don’t underestimate them. We have to respect them.”Hashim said, “I have come here several times. I am lucky that my batting average is up to the mark. I hope I can utilize my experience in this series. Our boys played well in the recently concluded Twenty20 series against Bangladesh. Their confidence is now high. I hope that we shall have a good series against Bangladesh.”He said, “Our spinners usually bowl well in ODI and Twenty20. Especially, Imran Tahir and Aaron Phangiso perform sound. I am optimistic with our squad.”There are hints from within the Bangladesh team that the Mirpur pitch is likely to play in favour of batsmen, which means it will be slow without much turn. But there has been plenty of rain in the previous 24 hours and the square has been under covers. Daytime thunderstorms followed by a clear evening are forecast.Teams:Bangladesh (possible): Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Mahmudullah Riyad, Mushfiqur Rahim (Wicketkeeper), Shakib Al Hasan, Sabbir Rahman, Nasir Hossain, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza (Captain), Arafat Sunny, Jubair Hossain/Rubel Hossain and Mustafizur Rahman.South Africa (possible): Hashim Amla (Captain), Quinton de Kock (Wicketkeeper), Faf du Plessis, Rilee Rossouw, David Miller, JP Duminy, Farhaan Behardien, Ryan McLaren/Wayne Parnell/Aaron Phangiso, Kyle Abbott, Morne Morkel and Imran Tahir.
