Bangladesh's Predicted XI vs South Africa, ICC World Cup 2023: Will Shakib Al Hasan Return To Playing XI?

Bangladesh and South Africa will take centre stage on Tuesday, October 24, as the two teams will battle it out in match no. 23 of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. South Africa beat reigning champions England by 229 runs on Saturday, making it three wins in four matches in the tournament. They also won against Sri Lanka and Australia, earlier in this World Cup. Their only loss in the tournament has come against the Netherlands in the rain-curtailed encounter. (World Cup points table)

Meanwhile, Bangladesh have lost three matches on the bounce - versus England, New Zealand and India - since their opening game win against Afghanistan.

Bangladesh were beaten by seven wickets by India in their last match. Batting first in Pune, the openers, both scoring fifties, got the Bangla Tigers off to a flyer with a 93-run opening stand. However, consistent wickets and tight bowling curbed the Bangladesh flow in the middle overs. Mahmudullah, then, smashed 46 off 36 towards the end, guiding Bangladesh to 256/8.

India, however, made light work of the run chase, winning with 51 balls to spare. Openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill laid the platform at the start while Virat Kohli slammed a 97-ball 103 to continue the Indian team's winning streak.

Similarly, Bangladesh also failed to register a competitive total against New Zealand, scoring 245/9. The Kiwis chased it down with 43 balls to spare. Bangladesh, earlier, were outclassed by reigning champions England in a 137-run defeat.

The Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan, meanwhile, is expected to return to the playing XI after missing out against India due to an illness. His return will invariably strengthen both the batting and bowling departments for the