SA bring strong team here with an aim to beat Tigers
Bangladesh no longer minnows: Du Plessis
Sports Reporter
South Africa captain in Twenty20 version Faf Du Plessis was convinced that Bangladesh would keep a place for spin option in the upcoming series despite their pacers have lately sprung a surprise against India in the last home series.
He expressed his opinion yesterday while speaking to media for the first time after the teams arrival in Dhaka on Wednesday. He praised newcomer Mustafizur Rahman, who demolished Indian mighty line up, showing his incredible prowess in delivering the cutter to good effect.
The left arm pacer claimed 13 wickets in the three-match series after snapping a record haul of five for 50 and six for 43 in the first two matches. He was complimented by the other three pacers who kept the pressure intact to help Bangladesh win the series 2-1.
Mustafizur however will be the player with whom South Africa are believed to have an exclusive video session in order to find out the way of dealing his menacing cutter.
I have had a look at him while watching the game against India, Faf Du Plessis said yesterday. We havent had a closer look with him though we havent sat down on him. But I did see that he really performed well. We can learn from the way India didnt play too well against him. We can make changes.
Du Plessis was however full of praise for Bangladeshi pacers and the young brigade who he thought erased the teams tag of minnows.
Its incredible that Bangladesh are playing good cricket. Its good for world cricket. They are no longer minnows anyway, said Plessis.
I think thats (the four pacers strategy) a surprising factor. When you play against subcontinent teams you expect spinners turning up and I suppose India would have thought that as well. So that was the surprise of the series, he said and was in of opinion that Bangladesh wouldnt bring up a sweeping change in their strategy against South Africa.
I am not sure whether they will do the same against us. I assume that because they did pretty well, you dont think they are going to change too much but there probably a bit more spin option.
Du Plessis, born in Pretoria, as usually showed their full respect to Bangladesh but made it clear South Africa would play with great intensity.
They are beating big nations. Its great to see them beat India. Its a nice opportunity for a smaller team to show what they are all about. And it also makes us come here and respect their capabilities as a team. They have played really well. But we have got a strong squad. We are going to play the best players to try and beat Bangladesh.
For South Africa the scorching heat of Bangladesh will be more challenging factor than that of Mustafizur or
rejuvenated Bangladesh team, said Plessis.
This will be the South Africas first assignment after the disappointing World Cup in which they yet again proved their tag of chokers after losing the semi-final match to co-host New Zealand.
The T20 squad of South Africa however isnt a fresh side - it includes nine members of the 2015 World Cup squad and only one new cap. But crucially, it will feature an entirely different bowling attack to South Africas usual arsenal. Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander have not been included to give the likes of Kyle Abbott, Chris Morris, Wayne Parnell, David Wiese, Beuran Hendricks and Kagiso Rabada a chance.
The Proteas coach Russel Domingo said his team left behind the World Cup disappointment and is determined to go hard. He also cherished their record in subcontinent and hope to continue it.
South Africa have remains the team to have been more successful than the other countries in sub-continent.
It is our first series after the World Cup. I think our players will come over the World Cup disappointment. We have got some new young players, he said.
