ZCZC
BSP-14
CRICKET-SAIFUDDIN-COME-BACK
Saifuddin desperate to make a comeback
DHAKA, Dec 15, 2019 (BSS) – Bangladesh pace-bowling all-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin is desperate to make a comeback in cricket, stating that he can’t just tolerate the long injury-forced absence, which kept him away from the cricket field.
Saifuddin has recurring back problem that kept him ruling out every series and tournament following the World Cup in which he was the one of the best performers for Bangladesh alongside Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim.
Keeping the trend of missing International cricket, he also missed the Bangabandhu Bangladesh Premier League (BBPL) as he has been in rehab to recover from the injury fully.
He said that now he feels better but needs another scan to understand his condition fully.
“In the last two weeks I feel better as I am not feeling any pain on my back. I have been practicing in the last two week and it appears to be all good. I may have done another scan to understand my condition fully,” Saifuddin said here today.
If everything is okay, Saifuddin may comeback in the cricket if Bangladesh gets the green signal from the government to tour in Pakistan for two-match Test series and three-match T20 International series.
If the government gives the nod, BCB president Nazmul Hassan Papon said, they would seek opinion from the players as to whether they want to go to Pakistan or not.
Saifuddin refused to talk on Pakistan issue but said he is desperate to make comeback quickly in the cricket.
“I don’t know about Pakistan tour. It’s up to the management and they will take the decision. What I can say is that I am desperate to comeback in cricket. I am really desperate.”
Missing the ongoing BBPL is also frustrating for him but Saifuddin said he compromised with him mentally as far as missing the tournament is concerned.
“I feel bad after missing BBPL but I compromised with myself mentally since it is natural that a pace bowler would fall in injury and would miss some tournament. I consoled myself this way that I could have missed bigger tournament. A World T20 is ahead and my target is to keep me fit and perform well to play that tournament,” the Feni-born cricketer said.
“But I am watching the BBPL game and tried to imagine myself in the field. I try to imagine how I would have bowled; I would have batted in certain condition in BBPL. That’s a mental game and I am playing with myself that game to involve with BBPL psychologically,” said the lanky all-rounder.
But Saifuddin is happy to see the local batsmen and bowlers domination in the BBPL.
“Our local batsmen and bowlers have been playing really well in this tournament. Tamim Iqbal, Anamul Haque Bioy, Mithun, Naim, all is playing well. At the same time our young pacer Hasan Mahmud has also bowled well. I hope they will keep up their performance.”
Saifuddin at the same time revealed that he is missing Shakib Al Hasan in the cricket field as the ace all-rounder has been service two-year ban, with one of that suspended imposed by ICC.
“I don’t know how he [Shakib] feels but I really feel bad for him. I am missing him badly. When I will make a comeback to cricket, I will miss him more as a teammate and as a big brother. No doubt he is always a great inspiration for all our cricketers, especially young cricketers like me.”
BSS/SMP/AU/SMM/1755 hrs