Bangladesh banking on pace all-rounders Sakib & Saifuddin ahead of T20I series
Mohammad Saifuddin during practice, Cricfrenzy
Bangladesh have long struggled to find a dependable pace-bowling all-rounder, but the emergence of Tanzim Hasan Sakib is bringing fresh hope to the national side. The young seamer has already become a regular face in the limited-overs setup, making his mark with both bat and ball.
Sakib’s ability to deliver quick runs lower down the order, alongside his knack for taking crucial wickets, has been a major asset. In the recently concluded ODI series against Sri Lanka, his unbeaten 33 off 21 balls in the second match played a vital role in Bangladesh securing their lone win in the series.
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Adding to the all-round arsenal, Mohammad Saifuddin has been recalled to the squad for the upcoming T20I series.
After a long layoff due to injury and form concerns, the experienced campaigner returns with expectations to contribute in both departments. Skipper Litton Das acknowledged the value of such multi-dimensional players ahead of the series.
“I think we’ve been missing an all-rounder for quite some time. We’re trying to groom Sakib into that role and he has already shown promise with the bat in a few games.” Litton said in a pre-match press conference.
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On Saifuddin’s inclusion, he added, “He’s the kind of player who fits the T20 mold, contributing with both bat and ball. We, along with the selection panel, felt he deserved another shot, and now we’ll see what he can deliver.”
Meanwhile, Litton himself is under scrutiny after a poor run of form. Despite being part of the ODI squad, he was benched after a disappointing performance in the series opener. The right-handed opener addressed the issue candidly.
“It’s not about rhythm. I couldn’t perform well in the first ODI, so I was dropped. I used that time to prepare for the T20Is, and now I’ll try to make the most of the opportunity on the field.”
