The Bangladesh Cricket Board has announced that South Africa will tour Bangladesh for a crucial two-match Test series as part of the ICC World Test Championship. The series is set to take place from October 21 to November 2, 2024, with matches held in Dhaka and Chattogram. Both teams are currently positioned close in the championship standings, making this series vital for their aspirations to reach the WTC final.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has formally announced the schedule for the upcoming test series featuring South Africa, which is slated to take place in October and November 2024. This two-match series is an integral part of the ICC World Test Championship cycle and will commence on October 21st at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka. Following the first match, the Proteas will travel to Chattogram to compete in the second Test at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, which is set to begin on October 29th. In their most recent encounter in the longest format of the game, South Africa emerged victorious with a 2-0 series win during Bangladesh’s tour of South Africa in early 2022. Historically, the two teams have clashed 14 times in Test matches, with South Africa claiming victory in 12 instances while the remaining two matches ended in draws. Currently, both teams hold a precarious position in the ICC World Test Championship standings; Bangladesh is positioned 5th with a point percentage of 39.29, while South Africa ranks 6th with a slightly lower point percentage of 38.89. The outcome of this forthcoming two-match series in Bangladesh is likely to have significant implications for both teams’ aspirations to secure a place in the final of the World Test Championship next year. Subsequent to this series, Bangladesh will prepare to face the West Indies, while South Africa is scheduled to host Pakistan and Sri Lanka in their next fixtures. The specific dates for the matches are as follows: – First Test: October 21-25 2024, Dhaka – Second Test: October 29 – November 2 2024, Chattogram. South Africa’s recent performance in the World Test Championship includes a successful series against the West Indies, where they achieved a 1-0 series win. Conversely, Bangladesh is currently engaged in a World Test Championship series against India, where they find themselves trailing 1-0.
The context of this article lies in the significance of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC), which is a competition for international Test cricket that commenced in 2019. The forthcoming series between Bangladesh and South Africa is pivotal not only in terms of bilateral relations but also in the standings of the WTC. The previous encounters between these two nations have consistently favored South Africa, providing them with a psychological edge. The test series in Bangladesh will serve as a crucial opportunity for both teams to enhance their standings as they compete for a coveted place in the WTC final.
In summary, the impending two-match Test series between Bangladesh and South Africa is set to be a critical contest in the context of the ICC World Test Championship. As both teams strive to improve their standings, the results of these matches will hold substantial implications for their respective journeys towards clinching a spot in next year’s final. The historical dominance of the Proteas over the Bangladesh team adds an intriguing layer to this upcoming rivalry.
Original Source: www.icc-cricket.com
