Zubayr Hamza will return to South Africa's Test side and bat at number three against Bangladesh in the first Test at the Wanderers Stadium on Sunday.
South Africa captain Temba Bavuma confirmed the move and said Hamza has earned another chance after doing the work in domestic cricket. Bavuma pointed to Hamza's run-scoring across formats, with the 31-year-old now back in the frame for a home Test for the first time since January 2020, when England visited.
The selection is also part of South Africa's wider build toward the next World Test Championship final in 2027. Bavuma said the team is still looking for ways to improve as it moves through that cycle, and the Bangladesh series gives South Africa another chance to settle combinations at home.
Hamza's return comes after a long and uneven stretch. He played his last Test in the 2023/24 season on tour in New Zealand in an under-strength South African line-up, and he also served a nine-month suspension in 2022 after a positive test for a banned substance. His recall now gives South Africa a more settled option in the top order.
What changed from the Australia series
South Africa have already made one notable adjustment from the side that beat Australia in Cape Town last month. David Bedingham was left out after that series, while Hamza has come back into the XI for the Bangladesh opener. South Africa sealed the series in Cape Town with a 176-run victory in the third Test, with Simon Harmer taking man-of-the-match honours.
That means the new-look batting order arrives with a clear purpose: maintain momentum, manage squad balance and keep testing the best fit for the next stage of the WTC cycle. The home conditions should help South Africa, but the selectors are still making decisions with an eye on the bigger picture.
What Bangladesh is expecting
Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto said he expects South Africa to use three pacers and one specialist spinner. That would fit the usual home pattern for South Africa, while also giving the visitors a clear idea of the challenge they are preparing for in their opening Test.
Bangladesh will arrive with some belief of their own. They won a one-day series in South Africa in 2021/22, but this Test match is a different assignment. South Africa are stronger at home, and Hamza's return at number three is one of the clearest signs of how seriously they are approaching the first Test.
