Bangladesh pacer Mohammad Saifuddin has asked the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to grant him a two-month break from all forms of cricket, citing depression. Cricbuzz reports that the 27-year-old conveyed to the board his struggle after missing the Global T20 League and the recent ICC T20 World Cup.
Saifuddin made this request following his selection for the A team squad for the second four-day match and three subsequent one-day games. Due to a visa delay caused by the ongoing political crisis, he missed the opportunity to play for the Montreal Tigers in the Global T20 League.
The BCB announced that the Bangladesh A Team will arrive in Islamabad on August 10 for two four-day and three one-day matches against Pakistan Shaheens, rescheduled due to the political turmoil in Bangladesh. The revised schedule has the first four-day match from August 13-16, the second from August 20-23, and the one-day matches on August 26, 28, and 30.
Saifuddin's No Objection Certificate (NOC) was valid until August 8, aligning with the A team's travel plans to Pakistan on August 11. A BCB official revealed that Saifuddin was upset about missing the Global T20 League due to the NOC's expiration before August 12. Additionally, he was disappointed at being left out of Bangladesh's 15-member squad for the ICC T20 World Cup, with Tanzim Shakib being selected instead.
A member of the selection panel shared with Cricbuzz that Saifuddin sent an email on July 30, expressing his mental distress and requesting not to be considered for any cricket activities for the next two months. The official replied that they needed to discuss the matter further upon his return to Dhaka to understand his situation better.
Adding to Saifuddin's challenges, he injured his rib during a workout on July 26, complicating his participation in the Global T20 League. A BCB medical committee official confirmed that his injury made it too risky for him to undertake a long flight. Despite initial treatment, his pain persisted, leading to the decision to keep him out of the league.
Meanwhile, Taskin Ahmed, who has been recovering from a shoulder injury, is being evaluated for a potential return to Test cricket. A selector mentioned they are awaiting a medical report on Taskin and might include him in the second four-day match to assess his readiness for longer-format cricket. Taskin's performance could earn him a spot in the squad for the second Test against Pakistan.
Bangladesh is scheduled to travel to Pakistan on August 17 for a two-match Test series as part of the ICC Test Championship, with matches in Rawalpindi (August 21-25) and Karachi (August 30-September 3).