As Bangladesh gear up for their next clash against South Africa on Tuesday, captain Shakib Al Hasan’s participation remains uncertain, lingering until Monday evening.

Shakib, who warmed up with over 40 minutes of batting practice ahead of the last ICC World Cup match against India, ultimately did not play.

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"If everything goes well, I will be playing tomorrow," stated Shakib on Monday, though he refrained from confirming his availability.

In contrast, Bangladesh faces a confirmed absence in the form of Taskin Ahmed, who is struggling with both form and fitness, ruling him out of the South Africa encounter.

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Adding to Bangladesh's challenges, head coach Chandika Hathrusinga was notably absent from the Tigers' last practice session due to an unconfirmed illness.

While Bangladesh prepares to face South Africa, the Proteas await the return of their captain, Temba Bavuma.

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Aiden Markram, addressing the media on Monday, mentioned that while Bavuma is making progress, his participation in the Bangladesh match is still pending a final decision.

With only one victory in four matches so far, a further defeat in Tuesday’s match could significantly narrow Bangladesh's path to the next phase.

Markram emphasised the importance of the match, stating, "It's obviously a massive game for us. We haven't done particularly well against them in the past."

Although Bangladesh has developed a respected pace attack over recent years, their performance in the World Cup has not met expectations. This struggle is once again under scrutiny ahead of the crucial encounter against South Africa. Another stumble could make it difficult for Bangladesh to overcome a team that has proven itself to be a formidable force in the World Cup.

In their last match, Bangladesh secured a significant victory over England, the reigning world champions, making the remainder of the World Cup a challenging journey for the English side.

In previous ICC World Cup encounters, Bangladesh has faced South Africa four times and emerged victorious on two occasions. While this statistic suggests parity, South Africa's consistent dominance in the World Cup stands out, with three wins in four matches and just one defeat.