SA vs BAN, 1st Test: South Africa announces Playing XI; Hamza, Paterson replace Bedingham, Coetzee

South Africa, the reigning champion, is currently placed second in the World Test Championship 2025-27 points table while Bangladesh is fifth.

Zubayr Hamza and Dane Paterson are set to return to South African Test team as skipper Temba Bavuma named the Playing XI for the first of the two home fixtures against Bangladesh, set to be played at the Wanderers in Johannesburg from Sunday.

Hamza last featured in a Test match for the Proteas in February 2024 against New Zealand in Hamilton while Paterson's most recent appearance in red-ball game came against Pakistan in Centurion in December of that year.

Hamza, the 31-year-old right-handed batter, replaces David Bedingham while Paterson, the 37-year-old right-arm pacer, takes the place vacated by Gerald Coetzee in the side that beat Australia by 176 runs in Cape Town last month to clinch the three-match series 2-1.

"Zubi's scored runs in domestic cricket in all the formats. From what I see, from a playing point of view, he's a lot more aggressive, looks to take the game on," Bavuma said, explaining the choice, during a press conference.

"There's an opportunity at number three and for him there's no better place to get that opportunity at a venue that he's made his home over the last couple of years, so he may be able to replicate those performances he has produced in domestic cricket."

Hamza served a nine-month drug ban in 2022 after accidentally taking his father's heart medication. He has a batting average of 19.18 in his eight Test appearances.

South Africa, the reigning champion, is currently placed second and on course to qualify for the final of the World Test Championship 2025-27. Bangladesh is fifth in the standings.

The second Test will be played in Centurion from November 23.

After Bangladesh, South Africa hosts England in three Tests in December and January.