Saif Hasan may be enduring a frustrating Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) , but Dhaka Capitals are adamant that faith in their top-order batter has not wavered after another subdued outing in the tournament.
Saif, Bangladesh’s World Cup vice-captain, arrived at the BPL on the back of a prolific Asia Cup and a productive run in bilateral series. Yet four matches into the season, he has scored only 26 runs, a return that has sharpened scrutiny around his place in both the franchise side and the national setup.
Against Rangpur Riders on Sunday, Saif made 15 from 24 balls, his highest score of the competition, but once again failed to convert a start. He struggled to impose himself before falling to a delivery he might expect to manage on better days.
“He is a world-class player, there is no doubt about that,” Dhaka assistant coach Ashiqur Rahman Majumder said after the match. “Maybe he is going through a slightly bad time. Hopefully he will come back in the next match.”
Ashiqur suggested that Saif’s problems were not rooted in preparation or technique, but rather in timing and confidence.
“Mentally or technically, everything is fine with him,” he said. “He just needs one good day, one good time.”
The inconsistency has defined Saif’s BPL so far. Brief moments of fluency have been followed by dismissals that leave him walking off shaking his head, aware that opportunities are slipping away. With competition for places in Bangladesh’s World Cup squad intense, the stakes are unusually high for a domestic T20 tournament.
“There is no lack of effort from him,” Ashiqur said. “Sometimes in cricket you do the right things, but it still doesn’t happen.”
Dhaka’s season has unfolded under difficult circumstances. Midway through the tournament, the team lost assistant coach Mahbub Ali Zakir, prompting Ashiqur’s appointment in the role. He said the call to join came through former international Mithun, acting on behalf of team management.
“Mithun called me and said, ‘We need you for our players. A tragic incident has happened,’” Ashiqur said. “Everyone was very upset. I was asked to help the players through that moment.”
Despite the disruption, Ashiqur dismissed the idea that events off the field have contributed to Dhaka’s struggles.
“In professional cricket, unpredictable things will happen,” he said. “The real challenge is how you bounce back from here.”
For Saif, the path back is clear, if not simple. The backing remains, publicly and privately, but patience in cricket is rarely endless.
“Our luck is not in our favour right now,” Ashiqur said. “But the players are trying their hardest and improving day by day.”
