Bangladesh and South African captains decide against forfeiting their innings in rain-hit Test

MUMBAI: Two captains-Mushfiqur Rahim (Bangladesh) and Hashim Amla (South Africa)-have not decided to forfeit one of their innings and play for the result on the final day of the Test at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur. This was confirmed by managers of both the teams.
Three consecutive days have been washed out due to rain in the ongoing Test match.
“No, we are not deciding to forfeit our innings”, Ms. Lerato Malekutu, the South African team manager said exclusively over her mobile from Mirpur. “Will play normally in this Test”, she added.
Bangladesh has scored 246 runs for 8 wickets (88.1 overs) on the opening day when rain came and Dale Steyn is yet to deliver his five remaining balls in this innings.
“You will have to ask the team but the fifth day could be abandoned as well so let’s not get ahead of ourselves”, Michael Owen-Smith, the CSA spokesman, speaking earlier, said.
“It is for the captain and manager to discuss and approach the opposite team and our captain and coach (Chandika Hathurusinghe) have not approached the visiting team”, Khaled Mahmud Sujon said from Bangladesh.
The identical situation did happen when South Africa played against England in the fifth Test at Centurion in 2000 but they said Test was suspected to be under bookies’ clout.
Both captains may not have agreed to forfeit one of their innings, however, the provision is there in the law-book.
“The ICC’s playing conditions state that Law 14 applies. Law 14 permits a captain to forfeit either of his side’s innings before it has commenced”, Peter Breen, the ICC’s spokesman said from Dubai.
“SA would have to forfeit their first innings and Bangladesh their second”, Fraser Stewart, the MCC Laws Manager, said from London. The MCC has been the owner of the Laws of Cricket since the 18th century.