Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium Mirpur Pitch Report For BAN Vs SA 1st Test

Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur [Source: @ICC/X]Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur [Source: @ICC/X]

On Monday, Bangladesh will cross swords against South Africa in the first Test of the upcoming two-match series on home soil. The much-awaited contest will be played at the iconic Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka. 

Led by Najmul Hossain Shanto, Bangladesh have a stellar home record and will pose a serious threat to the visiting side in this Test series. Barring skipper Shanto, Bangladesh's batting will revolve around Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das and Mominul Haque, who have been the linchpins of their lineup. The eyes will also be on Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam, who will lead the hosts' spin mantle in Shakib Al Hasan's absence. 

On the other hand, South Africa have picked a spin-heavy squad for the Bangladesh Tests. They haven't had a great year in red-ball cricket, losing three of five Tests in 2024. However, their squad is filled with many talented players, who can give Bangladesh a run for their money. 

The in-form Tristan Stubbs will be South Africa's key batter alongside the promising David Bedingham. Meanwhile, the Proteas' performance with the ball will pretty much be determined by Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj and Dane Piedt. 

So, as the stage is set for a riveting battle, let's see how the surface at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur will behave throughout the match. 

Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium Mirpur Pitch Report

Spin, spin and more spin; that's how we can describe the surface at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur. The fast bowlers might get a hint of seam movement and extra bounce early on, especially in the morning sessions with the new ball, but as the game progresses, the pitch will offer square turn, at pace, to the spinners. 

The track's pace will be ideal for scoring runs, particularly against the fast bowlers when the ball gets older. However, the spinners will dominate the batters in all five days if they hit the right areas. Considering batting will become more challenging with the game's progression, the toss-winner will likely bat first.