Markram says South Africa will not miss Shakib ahead of 1st Test against Bangladesh

South Africa are set to face Bangladesh in the 1st Test in Mirpur on Monday but most of the focus leading up to the match has been about Shakib Al Hasan and his late exclusion from the squad in what would have been his final Test.

And it wasn't a surprise that stand-in captain Aiden Markram was asked about Shakib ahead of what promises to be an enticing contest. 

"Not gonna miss him (laughs). He is a really good bowler and really good player. Ultimately they still got a strong squad and really strong in the home condition as well. No doubt tough challenge awaits us," Markram said in the pre-match press conference.

"He is a world-class player of course and he has played for many years. It's very good thing that we don't have come across him and face him and bowl to him as well. Obviously his experience in the Bangladesh changed room I assumed to be massive importance as well. We haven't have focused too much on the fact he is not here, because like I have mentioned they still have a really strong squad," Markram added.

Even without Shakib, Bangladesh will find themselves in a position where they can win against the visitors for the first time in Tests given how inexperienced their batting is, especially with their best batter Temba Bavuma out with injury in the 1st Test. 

"For sure, spin obviously is a big talking point, especially from being South Africa. We don't get such conditions like this on home soil. It's an exciting challenge for us to face especially as a team that's relatively young and doesn't play too many Test matches. It's just an exciting thing as a player to be exposed to new conditions and learn most of the stuff that we love and take the lessons with us and look forward to the next Test match and also into future sub-continent tours. It's a fantastic opportunity for us as a team and as I have mentioned we are thoroughly looking forward to it," Markram explained.