Dhaka: Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza says his team will play "fearless" cricket against South Africa on Sunday in the first of the two Twenty20 matches.
Despite winning its last T20 against Pakistan, Bangladesh is yet to specialise in this format with only Shakib Al Hasan regularly playing T20 cricket. "We don't have too many T20 specialists," Mortaza said ahead of the match at Shere Bangla National Cricket Stadium.
"T20 cricket is about guts, freedom and how you use your head. There is pressure but the only way out is to think about doing well, stay positive and fearless. And that's all we are trying to do. Obviously they have a couple of batsmen like AB de Villiers who can change the game but they are also human beings," Mortaza added.
The two teams last played each other four years ago at the 2011 World Cup in Bangladesh with the hosts being dismissed for just 78 runs. Bangladesh have won only 12 out of 42 matches in this format with just three wins against top-ranked sides.
.@ImMashrafe and @faf1307 unveils T20I, ODI & Test Series trophy today at SBNCS. T20I series starts tomorrow. #BANvSA pic.twitter.com/Hltj1UwKGZ
— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) July 4, 2015"In the last T20 match we played against Pakistan, we did well. If we feel scared then it's good to sit at home," Mortaza said.
.@BCBtigers practised today at SBNCS. T20I Series stats from tomorrow against @OfficialCSA. #BANVSA pic.twitter.com/GmrnqvXoy6
— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) July 4, 2015South Africa captain Faf du Plessis warned his side against taking Bangladesh for granted. "The nice thing about the Bangladeshi team at the moment is the new guys coming through. T20 cricket can be dangerous, because it's guys you haven't seen or played against," du Plessis said.
.@OfficialCSA also practised today at SBNCS. They will play the 1st T20I tomorrow against @BCBtigers. #BANvSA pic.twitter.com/UXuW66ktEN
— Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) July 4, 2015The match will be the first one after governing body ICC brought in some changes, including all no balls to result in a free hit. Du Plessis said he was "looking forward" to trying the changes out.
South Africa's T20 side is a far cry from the experience of their test team. While the batting line-up is packed with big names like AB de Villiers, Du Plessis and JP Duminy, the bowling attack is quite inexperienced. But it did an impressive job in the warm-up game on Friday, bowling out BCB XI for just 99 runs in an eight-wicket victory.
