Cricket South Africa (CSA) has given the green light for South Africa’s two-Test series in Bangladesh to proceed as scheduled after a comprehensive security review. The first Test is set to take place in Dhaka from October 21-25, followed by the second in Chattogram from October 29 to November 2. South Africa’s team is expected to arrive in Dhaka on October 16, with the final squad announcement anticipated soon.
CSA’s decision comes after a thorough on-site inspection conducted by a delegation of its security experts, including the board’s operations manager, team security manager, safety and security consultant, and a representative from the South African Cricketers’ Association. Based on a recent visit to Bangladesh, their recommendations have cleared the way for the tour.
Security concerns were raised following Bangladesh’s political unrest earlier this year. Anti-government protests in July and August, which culminated in the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government, prompted questions about the safety of international teams visiting the country. The Women’s T20 World Cup was moved from Bangladesh to the UAE due to the instability. However, CSA’s latest security assessment determined that conditions had improved, and the situation is now stable enough for the tour to proceed as planned.
South Africa’s participation in this series is crucial for their ongoing ICC World Test Championship (WTC) campaign. They have already played six Tests in this cycle, winning two, losing three, and drawing one. Currently placed sixth on the WTC points table, South Africa needs to secure at least five wins from their remaining six matches to stand a chance of qualifying for the final, which will be held at Lord’s in 2025. With only two matches per series, the team is under significant pressure to maximize their points in Bangladesh.
CSA’s recent prioritization of the SA20, their domestic T20 franchise competition, and cost-cutting measures have limited South Africa’s WTC engagements to two-Test series. The upcoming series in Bangladesh will be their first Test encounter since the two sides met in South Africa in March-April 2022. The Proteas, meanwhile, are also in action in the UAE, where their white-ball squads are facing Ireland.
The schedule for South Africa’s tour of Bangladesh is as follows:
- October 21-25: 1st Test, Dhaka
- October 29-November 2: 2nd Test, Chattogram
For South Africa, this tour represents a pivotal moment in their quest to secure a spot in the WTC final.
