Time to answer

What waits for wonder boy Mustafizur Rahman when the second and final Test between Bangladesh and South Africa begins at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur today? Can he help the Tigers continue their first Test form and rewrite the history in the second Tests? Can they take the country's cricket to another height, denying the number one Test side South Africa -- who have not lost an away Test series since 2006 -- a victory? Can the Bangladesh batsmen give real value to their good starts and make big knocks?

These are the questions which will be answered over the next five days, if rain doesn't play spoilsport like it did in the first Test in Chittagong, where the last two days were washed out. The two teams practised under brilliant sunshine in the last two days, but once the Test begins the forecast is for rain and more rain.

The Chittagong Test was spoiled by rain, but Bangladesh still rewrote the history of the two teams' Test battle, which had become overwhelmingly one-sided in South Africa's favour. Their comeback after the first session of the first day, courtesy of dependable Mohammad Shahid and Mustafizur's burst, was remarkable and that was followed by a good batting effort.

Still the home team will be looking forward to seeing a few big innings from the set batsmen in the last game of the Proteas series. However the challenge will be bigger this time as the Mirpur pitch is expected to offer more bounce and a bit more pace than the one in Chittagong to give the formidable South African pace-attack an edge.

So it would also be interesting to see how a shrewd Mustafizur takes this chance.

"The Mirpur wicket always has something for the pace bowlers. We are playing with the SG ball and there might be reverse swing and even the spinners will get turn. Overall it may be a sporting wicket," said Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim, adding that there were some uncertainties about how the pitch would behave after mostly being under covers in the week leading up to the Test.

Bangladesh were thinking about bringing in one change to the team that played at Chittagong. Nasir Hossain found new belief with his off-spin in the limited-overs game and that's why the team management is considering seeing how he responds in the longer version, especially when South Africa have plenty of left-handers in the side.

And if Nasir makes the cut, then left-arm spinner Taijul Islam may make the way for him.