BAN vs SA: Temba Bavuma Ruled Out of 1st Test; Dewald Brevis Handed Call Up As Cover

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South African skipper Temba Bavuma has been ruled out of the first Test against Bangladesh, scheduled to start on October 21 in Dhaka, after scans revealed a muscle strain in his left tricep.

Bavuma, however, will travel with the squad to Dhaka on Tuesday (October 15) and continue his recovery under the supervision of the medical team in preparation for the second Test.

The 34-year-old also missed the third and final ODI against Ireland in UAE earlier in the week. Rassie van der Dussen stepped in as captain for the final match of the tour.

Bavuma had sustained the injury during the second ODI after landing on his elbow while making ground at the non-striker's end. The injury prevented him from fielding and now the scan results have ruled him out of action for a little longer.

T20I skipper Aiden Markram, who missed the Ireland series, will lead the side in Bavuma's absence, while youngster Dewald Brevis has been handed his maiden call-up to the Test side as cover for the injured skipper.

Brevis, who has featured in the T20Is for the Proteas, earns his first call up to the red ball side, having done well with the bat in South Africa A team's meeting with the Sri Lanka A team last month. The 21-year-old has featured for Mumbai Indians in the IPL.

Apart from the addition of Brevis as cover for Bavuma, South Africa has also added Lungi Ngidi to the squad as replacement for pacer Nandre Burger, who was ruled out of the Test series in Bangladesh due to a lumbar stress fracture.

Ngidi, who played in all three ODIs against Ireland in Abu Dhabi, will now compete for a spot in the fast-bowling department that also includes Kagiso Rabada, Dane Paterson and Wiaan Mulder, the all-rounder. Here is a look at the updated South Africa squad:

South Africa Test Squad vs Bangladesh 2024

Temba Bavuma (captain), David Bedingham, Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Tony de Zorzi, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram (captain for first Test), Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton (wicketkeeper), Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Dane Paterson, Dane Piedt, Kagiso Rabada, Kyle Verreynne (wicketkeeper).

Bangladesh will host South Africa in a two-Test series, starting with the first Test from October 21 at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Dhaka before the action shifts to Chattogram for the second Test at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium from October 29.

The two Tests are part of the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25. South Africa are presently placed at the fifth place with a point percentage of 38.89, and a successful outing in Bangladesh can significantly boost their push for a top-two finish.