For Saif Hassan, the wait to wear Bangladesh colours again lasted more than two years. In that time, the young right-hander, who once looked too raw for the international game, went back to the drawing board. He worked on his batting, his discipline, and crucially, added a new dimension to his cricket with the ball in hand.
His debut came five years ago in the Test series against Pakistan, where he often appeared hurried and unsure. Footwork was a particular weakness, with his balance frequently exposed against both pace and spin. Six Tests produced a batting average of 14.45, while his first five T20 internationals brought an average of just 13. It was little surprise when opportunities dried up.
Yet Saif did not retreat into frustration. He rebuilt. His batting has grown sharper, particularly on the leg side, where his strokeplay now carries both assurance and authority. But it is the development of his bowling that has truly caught the eye. No longer a token part-timer, he offers control, flight and variations in pace.
That was on display in the first T20I against the Netherlands on Saturday. Introduced into the attack, he struck twice in his opening over, removing captain Scott Edwards and Teja Nidamanuru. Both wickets owed something to his guile, though Jaker Ali’s superb catch accounted for Edwards. Saif had replaced Shamim Hossain, who was recovering from illness, and he seized the chance with composure.
Reflecting afterwards, Saif said: “There was a lot of hard work and a lot of process behind this. Alhamdulillah, I got the opportunity, and hopefully I can make good use of it. We had a clear plan: whenever I came on to bowl, I just needed to bowl according to the situation. At that moment, the team needed a wicket, which is why the captain brought me on.”
If his bowling gave Bangladesh momentum, his batting sealed the contest. In the second innings, chasing 137, Saif blasted an unbeaten 36 from just 19 balls to ensure an eight-wicket victory with 39 deliveries to spare. He struck three sixes, including two in one over off Vikramjit Singh, and showed an array of shots that underlined his progress. Bangladesh cleared the boundary six times, twice the tally of the Netherlands, with Saif’s clean hitting down the ground particularly eye-catching.
With the bat, his recent numbers do not leap off the page. Across his last six innings he has scored 132 runs at an average of 22 with a strike rate of 121.10. In this year’s GSL T20, he made 84 runs in three innings at 28.00 with a strike rate of 127.27. Still, his style remains easy on the eye and selectors have recognised the improvement.
Analytical Breakdown
Technique Improvements
- Footwork: No longer static. Quicker onto the front foot, cutting down LBW and bowled dismissals.
- Leg-side play: Balanced stance means he can flick and on-drive without closing the bat face.
- Bowling craft: Uses variations of flight and pace effectively. No longer a fill-in bowler but a genuine option in the middle overs.
- Power hitting: His cameo against the Netherlands showed new range. Down-the-ground hitting was a weakness early in his career, but his 36 off 19 — with three sixes — highlighted cleaner timing and confidence in clearing the ropes.
Domestic vs International Numbers
- Domestic T20s: Mid-20s average, strike rate above 120. Comfortable anchoring innings while accelerating later.
- International record before recall: Average of 14.45 in Tests and 13 in T20Is. Struggled against quality pace and pressure.
- Recent progress: The Netherlands game suggests he is bridging the domestic-international gap. He bowled effectively and produced the kind of finishing innings Bangladesh have often lacked.
Role in the Asia Cup
- Batting: A flexible option in the middle order. His power hitting against the Netherlands suggests he can close games, while his improved strike rotation makes him more than just a hitter.
- Bowling: Provides a sixth-bowling option. In conditions likely to favour spin, his off-breaks may prove valuable.
- Overall: Bangladesh’s squad often lacks balance. If Saif continues to contribute in both departments, he could transform from a recalled squad player into a central figure.
Dismissal Breakdown Table
| Format | Caught (%) | Bowled (%) | LBW (%) | Other (%) | Key Traits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests (6 inns) | ~45 | ~30 | ~20 | ~5 | Vulnerable outside off stump, static feet led to bowled/LBW dismissals. |
| T20Is (5 inns) | ~60 | ~15 | ~10 | ~15 | Overhit when under pressure, often caught in the deep, struggled for rhythm. |
| Domestic T20s | ~50 | ~20 | ~10 | ~20 | More controlled strokeplay, but aerial risks remain common. |
Progression:
- Fewer LBW/bowled dismissals now, reflecting stronger front-foot play.
- Caught remains common, but in domestic cricket this is more often a result of controlled risk-taking rather than desperation.
- Internationally, his new innings against the Netherlands shows he can clear boundaries instead of perishing to mistimed shots.
Now, with the Asia Cup around the corner, Saif Hassan returns not as a raw prospect but as a more rounded cricketer. The question is whether he can translate these gains into consistent contributions at the highest level. He certainly looks more at home in international cricket at the moment.