Saifuddin Steps Back from Cricket for Mental Health Reasons
In a heartfelt announcement, Bangladesh fast bowler Mohammad Saifuddin has opted to take a break from all cricket activities for the next two months, citing struggles with his mental health. The 27-year-old reached out to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), expressing that he has been grappling with depression after being unable to participate in the Global T20 League and the latest ICC T20 World Cup.
His decision comes after he was selected for the Bangladesh A team, set to compete in a series of two four-day matches and three one-day games against Pakistan Shaheens. Unfortunately, due to a delay in securing his visa amid ongoing political turmoil, Saifuddin was forced to miss the Global T20 League where he was expected to play for the Montreal Tigers.
Recently, the BCB announced that the Bangladesh A Team will head to Islamabad on August 10 for the imminent fixtures, which were postponed due to the political situation back home. The first of the four-day matches is now scheduled to take place from August 13-16, followed by the second match on August 20-23. The subsequent one-day fixtures will occur on August 26, 28, and 30.
As part of the team’s preparations, the BCB had granted Saifuddin’s No Objection Certificate (NOC) until August 8, allowing him to join the squad for their tour to Pakistan beginning August 11. A board official revealed to Cricbuzz that Saifuddin felt disheartened over missing the Global T20 due to the NOC expiry, which lasted only until August 8 instead of the anticipated August 12. Moreover, he was disappointed at not making the final 15-member roster for the ICC T20 World Cup, with selectors choosing Tanzim Shakib in his place.
In his email to the board on July 30, shortly after the A team announcement, Saifuddin conveyed his mental anguish over missing out on the Global T20 as well as the World Cup, requesting a two-month hiatus from cricket. A member of the selection panel confirmed this on Wednesday, stating, “I acknowledged his request and mentioned the importance of a conversation upon his return to Dhaka regarding his current state of mind.”
Further complicating matters, Saifuddin suffered a rib injury while training on July 26, which added to his difficulties in participating in the Global T20 League. The BCB medical committee later ruled him out of the league due to this injury, determining that undertaking a long-haul flight while in such pain was not advisable.
“He informed us just before his scheduled departure,” said a BCB medical official. “After evaluation, we concluded that traveling 20-22 hours under those circumstances would be too risky.” Saifuddin reported to the BCB a day ahead of his flight on July 24, dealing with muscle pain he had incurred during his workout. Despite receiving initial medical care, his condition did not improve, leading to the decision to prevent him from taking part in the Global T20.
