Saif Hassan voiced strong frustration on Sunday night in Mirpur after the 2026 Bangladesh Premier League league stage ended, criticising how the BCB Anti-Corruption Unit questioned him during the Sylhet phase of the tournament.
Saif came to the press conference as a Dhaka Capitals representative after their final league match. The discussion quickly shifted from runs to rules, and from form to fairness.
He admitted his numbers never matched last season early on. “I did not score runs in the first few matches,” Saif said. “I tried to stay with my process, but I overdid things in practice. After a short break, I returned mentally fresh and things clicked.” The explanation sounded honest and familiar to anyone who has played the game.
Freedom helped him late in the tournament. “In the last two matches, I played freely,” he said. “There were no expectations, and expectations bring pressure. I just tried to back myself.” That clarity reflected in his fluent 73 off 44 balls against Chattogram Royals.
The mood changed when the talk turned to the ACU. Saif described how poor form triggered suspicion rather than support. “When I did not click in the first two or three matches, they felt my performance did not match last year,” he said. “They suddenly charged in. I did not like it. I felt disturbed because I play cricket for passion, not for anything else.” The anger carried weight because he spoke without exaggeration.
He admitted the episode affected him mentally. “For the next few matches, it stayed at the back of my mind,” Saif said. “You start thinking what is happening and what people are thinking. After the break, I realised these things are not in my control, so I tried to move on.” That admission explained the uneven stretch that followed.
Saif also clarified the timing of the questioning. “They came into the dressing room in Sylhet,” he said. “I was there before going out to bat. They did not question me while I was padding up. They had come the day before as well.” The distinction mattered because earlier claims suggested otherwise.
He described the manner as shocking. “It was obviously surprising,” Saif said. “I was resting when they suddenly came in. Gurbaz was sleeping. This kind of sudden approach feels very disrespectful.” The criticism landed because it targeted process, not purpose.
Nothing came of the checks. “They found nothing,” Saif said. “They apologised before leaving and kept apologising over the next few days.” That detail shifted the spotlight from suspicion to accountability.
Saif accepted responsibility for his own output. “The team expected me to deliver as a direct signing,” he said. “I could not fulfil that, so apologies for that. But the management supported me constantly.” That balance between self-criticism and protest summed up his stance.
Fixing allegations have long haunted the BPL, but this time the accusation ran the other way. Saif’s words did not attack the fight against corruption; they questioned how that fight treats players when form dips and pressure rises.
