Proteas can�t afford to underestimate Tigers
AGENCIES
AGENCIES, JOHANESSBURG: If South Africa were taking a watered-down ODI squad to Bangladesh on the back of hosts nominally poor results against big teams eyebrows would not be raised.
However Chandika Hathurusinghas charges have suddenly looked unbeatable with sub-continental superpowers India and Pakistan suffering unexpected series defeats with full-strength sides.
Normally Bangladesh have tended to explode and dissipate with equal measure but they have shown a remarkable consistency that is not associated with the Tigers.
Former Proteas paceman and current Easterns coach Andre Nel said picking an under-strength side for the limited overs leg will ask serious questions of South Africas depth.
AB de Villiers Hashim Amla Faf du Plessis and JP Duminy will all make the trip for the three-match ODI series but with no Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander the bowling looks a little light even though Ryan McLaren Kyle Abbott and Morne Morkel will be leading the Proteas attack next month.
They have a nice mix of slightly older and younger players who are gelling well which is why it is a bit of a concern that we are taking a slightly weaker team to Bangladesh. Their senior players are not older than 30 and they have morphed into a dangerous senior core that delivers consistently. They need to be taken more seriously now but I hope the younger guys can stand up and be counted Nel said.
Just because their Champions Trophy qualification is secured doesnt mean they will be less of a threat. After beating Pakistan and India they will want to continue with that momentum. If they can beat South Africa and India in back-to back series thatll prove
how good they are. Theyve always been compared to Zimbabwe and theyll want to shrug that off.
Despite snaring career-best ODI figures of 5-45 in Providence against Bangladesh in Guyana during the 2007 Cricket World Cup Nel had to watch on in horror as the army of left-arm spinners tied an inextricable web on a tacky surface.
