Bangladesh captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza says his team will play “fearless” cricket against South Africa on Sunday in the first of two Twenty20 matches.
Despite winning its last T20 against Pakistan, Bangladesh is yet to specialize 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 Sher-e-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.”
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. “In the last T20 match we played against Pakistan, we did well,” Mortaza said. “If we feel scared then it’s good to sit at home.”
South Africa captain Faf du Plessis warned his side against taking Bangladesh for granted.