South Africa recall Hamza for Bangladesh Test

Zubayr Hamza will play in his first Test match in more than two years when he lines up for South Africa against Bangladesh in the first Test starting at the Wanderers on Sunday.

Captain Temba Bavuma said Hamza would bat at number three in place of David Bedingham, who was dropped after the series against Australia last month.

READ | Temba Bavuma set to extend remarkable Test captaincy record

Also dropped

In the only other change from the team that clinched the series against Australia with a 176-run win in the third Test in Cape Town, seam bowler Dane Paterson replaces Gerald Coetzee, who is also dropped.

Fast bowler Anrich Nortje, who played in the first two Tests against Australia, is in the squad but has still not fully recovered from a groin injury, Bavuma said.

Off-spinner Simon Harmer, who was man of the match in Cape Town, remains as the sole specialist spinner ahead of long-time incumbent Keshav Maharaj.

Hamza, 31, played for a below-strength South African team in a series in New Zealand in 2023/24 but has not played in a home Test since appearing against England in January 2020.

Hamza served a nine-month ban after testing positive for a banned substance in 2022, which he said was the result of accidentally taking medication prescribed for his father.

“He has gone back and done what he can in domestic cricket,” said Bavuma.

“He’s scored runs in all formats.”

Home ground

Hamza plays his domestic cricket for the Gauteng Lions, whose home ground is the Wanderers.

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto said his team would be finalised on the morning of the match but said it was likely they would pick three seam bowlers and one specialist spinner.

“I think I can say that there will be three pacers,” said Shanto.

“There must also be a spinner.”

Although South Africa will be strong favourites, Shanto said Bangladesh took confidence from recent performances as well as a one-day series win in South Africa in 2021/22.

Bavuma said that it was important for South Africa to maintain the standards of world Test champions as they aim to reach the next final in 2027.

“We are halfway on our journey and we are still looking at ways we can improve,” he said.