Saifuddin Says 'My Day Will Come Too'

Despite performing brilliantly in the BPL, Mohammad Saifuddin did not secure a place in Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup squad. Instead, Tanzim Hasan Sakib was chosen. The junior Sakib made the most of his opportunity, even to the extent that one of the team’s best bowlers, Shoriful Islam, did not get a single match to play.

Speaking to the media at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Sunday, Saifuddin praised Tanzim Sakib and expressed his determination to contribute positively when his good days arrive.

"Look, competition never ends; there’s always someone better. I’ll try to perform even better. I appreciate him. Tanzim Sakib has played exceptionally well. He is my colleague, and we played together at Abahani. This is how it is with cricketers—some will perform well, others may not. Instead of worrying too much, I’ll focus on how to do better. Every cricketer has their day; on his day, he did well. When my day comes, I’ll try to give my best."

Before the World Cup squad was announced, Saifuddin also performed well in the Zimbabwe series. However, he did not manage to convince the selectors. When asked if he felt bad about not making the squad, he said,

"Actually, I’ve gotten used to this since the U-19 days, so it doesn’t bother me much. I always try to play well whenever I get the chance and stay focused on practice. Now that I have a family, negative thoughts don’t cross my mind as often when we’re together. The more I think about being left out, the worse I feel. It affects my work, so I keep working and wait for opportunities. To be honest, in Bangladesh, we don’t have more than 20 to 25 international-level players outside of the core group. I believe I’ll get my chance if I stay fit. In other countries, the competition is much higher; we have very few international-level players in Bangladesh, around 20 to 25, as far as I think."

When asked about Bangladesh's World Cup performance, Saifuddin said, "No, they definitely played well. Though it would have been better if they played even better, overall, I am pleased. There was a good chance to play in the semi-finals, but it didn’t happen. Still, I appreciate their effort. It’s always pleasing when your country plays well."