Nuwan Thushara, with a new Kookaburra in hand, is nothing short of intimidating for any opener. His continuous inswinging fuller-length deliveries have become a familiar challenge in white-ball cricket, and Bangladesh opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim faced them twice in this Asia Cup.
But Saif Hassan had a different plan. In the third over of the run chase against Sri Lanka on Saturday at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, he began his boundary assault with a lofted drive over Thushara’s head. On the very next ball, he came down the track and sent a six soaring over long-on.
Yet it was another six that truly set the tone of the match. From commentators to spectators, even journalists in the press box were awestruck by how perfectly Saif played the shot.
In the fifth over of Bangladesh’s innings, Thushara returned with the ball, delivering an off-cutter on leg stump. Saif barely moved, leaning slightly forward with his front foot, keeping a steady head, a low back lift, and a limited bat swing, but pure wrist power sent the ball high for an exquisite six.
That shot was more than a boundary; it was a statement. Saif, not initially the first-choice opener for Bangladesh in this Asia Cup, had been selected as backup. Yet, given a chance following Parvez Hossain’s failure, he seized it brilliantly.
He ended his innings with 61 runs off 45 balls, including four sixes and two boundaries. Bangladesh won the Super Four match by 4 wickets. But beyond the numbers, it was the way he neutralized Thushara that mattered most. Winning that initial battle allowed Bangladesh to dictate the run chase, and the rest of the team followed suit. The Tigers never appeared in danger of losing control.
Saif’s performance on Saturday may have surprised many, but those familiar with his preparation would not be. In an exclusive interview with The Daily Sun recently, he revealed how he had sharpened his leg-side skills with senior assistant coach Mohammad Salahuddin at Masco Cricket Academy.
“I worked on my hand swing and leg-side play,” Saif explained. “My off-side has always been my strength, but bowlers targeted my legs. Now I manage it better, which allows me to score more freely on my strengths”, Saif said.
To hone his leg-side game, he even faced deliveries from a high-speed bowling machine without pads.
Alongside this, he played Sri Lanka’s spinners effectively in the middle overs, smashing two sixes off Dunith Wellalage, one over his head landing on the sight screen, and another, a sublime inside-out shot over extra cover. He scored 20 runs off 13 balls from Dunith while taking a measured approach against Wanindu Hasaranga when needed.
At the post-match press conference, Saif emphasized that his range-hitting against spinners was the result of persistent work. “I’ve been working on it for a long time, and now it’s finally paying off. Against spin, I normally try to play in the range-hitting areas. My strength is playing straight, along the sight screen, or with the spin. That’s what I’m focusing on,” he said.
Saif, often hailed as Bangladesh’s next Test opener, has come a long way. His ability to play long innings at age-level cricket earned him the tag, though his talent for big shots was often overshadowed by this tag.
His Test career has been modest so far, debuting on 7 February 2020 in Rawalpindi and playing last on 26 November 2021 in Chattogram, scoring 159 runs in six matches across 11 innings.
Even after making his T20I debut, Saif struggled initially, scoring just two runs in his first four innings, including two ducks. But a strong performance in the Netherlands series following the Global Super League with Rangpur Riders gave him another opportunity, which he has maximized brilliantly.
The flicked six over deep midwicket in Dubai was more than just a shot; it was a statement of patience, resilience, and sheer skill. Saif is proving he can go big, and that one six tells it all.
