'Not thinking of the World Cup yet'
Keeping in mind the seam-friendly conditions in the United Kingdom this summer for the ICC World Cup, the Bangladesh team management has been looking for a pace bowling all-rounder who can provide quick runs down the order.
Mohammad Saifuddin showed a glimpse of his talent in the home series against Zimbabwe last year and on the tour of New Zealand this year and the 22-year-old is among the first choice for selectors as the seam-bowling all-rounder in the mega event starting on May 30.
The team management is considering playing Saifuddin as the fourth seamer and hoping to utilise his batting ability in the lower middle order. According to head coach Steve Rhodes, the cricketer can play a crucial role for the Tigers.
Saifuddin, however, has been suffering from tennis elbow since the third and final ODI in Dunedin against New Zealand but the cricketer is continuing to play for Abahani Limited in the Dhaka Premier League (DPL).
There has been a lot of talk about the players who could make it into the Tigers' final 15-member World Cup squad and the selectors are set to announce the World Cup squad and the squad for the tri-nation ODI series in Ireland on April 18.
Saifuddin, however, was reluctant to think about the World Cup and informed that he was more focused on the DPL and will only start planning for the mega event after getting a ticket to the flagship event.
"To be honest I am not thinking of such things [finding a place in the world cup squad]. At the moment I am only focused on the DPL matches as I will only think about the World Cup when I get the final ticket for the event," Saifuddin told reporters at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.
The youngster, however, did express his desire to play in the World Cup and saw the mega event as a great platform to show his skills, not one that would burden him with expectations.
"Actually, there is no reason to take pressure as [ODI skipper] Mashrafe [Bin Mortaza] bhai always says that the more confident you are the better it is for you. We may not be able to bowl 150 km/h like Kagiso Rabada but if we are able to bowl in the right areas at 130 km/h then certainly we could do better," he said.
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