Saifuddin takes DPL as part of his preparation for World Cup
Mohammad Saifuddin. -AFP
||CF Correspondent||
Bangladesh all-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin stressed on playing good cricket in the 50-over format of Dhaka Premier League (DPL) as part of his preparation for the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup.
Saifuddin was the part of Bangladesh’s ODI squad which had recently played against New Zealand, only to be whitewashed in the three-match series. While Saifuddin made some contribution in batting, he was below par in bowling.
But he knows as a player of national team’s ODI squad expectation will be high on him in the DPL, as he is playing for the country’s domestic powerhouse Abahani Limited, a team which is the reigning champions in the league.
“You have seen me in the last series in New Zealand that I had significant contribution in both batting and bowling,” Saifuddin said here today.
“If I can make my way to the World Cup, I will try my best. My target will be to pay off the trust the team management put on me.”
“There is no end of learning. Every cricketer has some shortcoming and I am no exception. I have been working on my shortcomings. The DPL is the platform to overcome those weaknesses. There are still two and months to start the World Cup. Hopefully, I will be able to prepare myself fully.”
Saifuddin said he is eager to cement his place as a genuine all-rounder to contribute with both hands for the national team.
“I prioritize both batting and bowling. In the practice session, I emphasize equally on both. When I bowl, I am a bowler and when I bat, I am a batsman—this is the way of my thinking.”
Saifuddin, however, hadn’t had a good time in DPL T-20 format as he couldn’t live up to the expectation. But he is keen to amend those mistakes in the 50-over format of DPL, which kicks off on Friday (March 8).
“Our team (Abahani Limited) is bolstered by experienced players of domestic cricket and a national team. However, a famed name alone can’t win the game. Those who will perform better on the given day will win the match. But our team is well-balanced. Hopefully, we’ll have a good tournament,” he said.
