Bangladesh opted not to travel to India for the T20 World Cup citing security concerns, prompting the ICC to replace them with Scotland. Initially, the country’s interim government stated that the decision was entirely governmental.
However, Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul later claimed that the cricketers themselves had taken the decision, a U-turn that left players, coaches and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) in an uncomfortable position.
Bangladesh senior assistant coach Mohammad Salahuddin had earlier revealed that two players were mentally devastated after missing out on the World Cup.
Saif has also admitted that he was also deeply disappointed. Speaking to the media in Rajshahi, the right-handed batter said he could not bring himself to watch the tournament.
“Honestly speaking, I did not watch a single match of the World Cup,” Saif said. “I am trying to motivate myself in a different way now. My focus is on the upcoming series, and if I get the opportunity, I want to express myself and put myself in a good position.”
Saif acknowledged that the entire squad felt the pain of not participating in cricket’s biggest T20 event. During the World Cup period, the BCB organized a four-team domestic competition titled the ‘Odommo Cup’, featuring national team players and those on the fringes of selection.
Saif expressed relief at being able to perform well in that tournament.
“Everyone who was in the squad felt the pain. There’s nothing to deny about that,” he added. “From where I was, playing in the Odommo Cup helped me reach a better position. That is a comforting thing.”
The 25-year-old emphasized the importance of moving forward as a professional athlete.
“As a professional cricketer, the sooner you can bounce back, the better it is for you. That was our effort, to recover as quickly as possible. It was good that we had a break, and we were able to use that time properly.”
