Former Bangladesh captains thought that there will have possibility for them to fare well in South African condition if they could play team-wise game against the top-tier  Proteas side in the upcoming tour’s games.

But they also said that this time their side will not face the problems what they had confronted in their last two tours in South Africa in past occasions.

Two years after Test status, Bangladesh went to South Africa to play their maiden series against the Proteas in 2002. Therefore, the Tigers in 2008 toured to this African country again. Bangladesh has only three players including Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes and Mushfiqur Rahim, who have playing experience from that tour though Shakib Al Hasan also was there but he took rest from the two-match Test series.

Ex-captain Akram Khan said that they started playing better cricket in Test after one-day format. So he doesn’t see any cause not to play better cricket in Test series.

“Bangladesh have been playing better cricket at home and away since the last two and-half-a-years. But South Africa will be a difficult place for us as you all know that they are very strong side at their home condition. They depend on fast bowlers and built their wickets in that vein so that their fast bowlers got more edges than other sides,” said Akram Khan.

“By the grace of Allah, our players made their progress. The fast bowlers we have in our battery they are doing well. The problems we had faced there during our last two tours in South Africa that situation will not be repeated this time around,” Akram said.

“If our players could perform as a team game and the way we are performing if we could maintain it, Insha-Allah, we will do better further,” he added.

Former wicketkeeper-captain Khaled Mashud Pilot on the other hand said that they have lack of all-rounders than their opponent.

Even though this Bangladesh team has no more playing experience at adverse condition, the team improved a lot. They are mentally in good shape. I am hopeful that they will do better this time around. Day by day, they have improved a lot and will do further,” said Khaled Mashud.

“Our batsmen have to face challenge against their quality bowlers. We will play with genuine batsmen but they will play with all-rounders. In this case, we’ll lag behind them a bit,” Pilot told The Independent.

Before Mushfiqur Rahim, Khaled Mashud led Bangladesh as the wicketkeeper-captain. Mashud said that they should try Liton Kumar Das and Mahmudullah Riyad in Australia series not to play more opening batsmen.

“In hot and sunny condition, we should have tried  Liton Das against Australia before going to South Africa. Along with that, we should have also played Mahmudullah Riyad as he played well against spin bowling. We could have done it not to play more opening batsmen,” Pilot viewed.

When asked about Mushfiqur’s multi rope is problem, the former captain said that they should let him play his own game.

“I don’t think it’s a pressure. We should not disturb him. We should let him play. It’s important to encourage him so that we can take the best thing from him,” he said, adding: “Best batsmen should play at top-order position. I think Mushfiqur Rahim should bat at number four position.”

“It’s tough to say about the result because it depends on track and condition,” the 41-year-old Mashud said of Test series result.