Agencies
Bangladesh pace-bowling all-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin said in a video message that he attained one of his childhood dreams having played with Shakib Al Hasan and helped Bangladesh win the second ODI and series against Zimbabwe in Harare.
The duo left the field after winning the match with a partnership of 69 runs. Saifuddin remained unbeaten on 28 off 34 balls. While Shakib was unbeaten on 96 runs. Saifuddin was delighted to get the opportunity to fulfill his childhood dream.
"To tell you the truth, it was a dream from childhood to play with him [Shakib] and partner him at the crease to win the match for the team. I may have talked about it in talkshows before but the opportunity arrived yesterday and I tried my best to make the moment a memorable one.
"There were loose balls at times but for the team there were times that the required task was to play dots. Didn't look to go for lofted shots but did what was required and the biggest thing is that Shakib Bhai supported me very well and the task was accomplished easily," Saifuddin said in a video message.
Saifuddin said he has the experience of overcoming pressure since his age-level cricket, however, he said it’s a lot different on the International stage.
"I have faced such situations in age-level cricket where the team's five or six wickets would fall in 40 or 50 runs. I would then stick around at one end to get the score to 200 plus. The pressure situation in international cricket is different to the one I faced with Chittagong Division in age-level cricket but I used that experience."
Saifuddin, who remained unbeaten on 28 off 34 with Shakib unbeaten at the other end on 96, was hopeful that he was able to show some quality with the bat.
"I haven't been able to prove myself as a batsman in the international circuit. Of course, I don't want my teammates to get out so that I can have a chance to bat but since yesterday I had a chance, I wanted to make it count. My biggest happiness is that with my small contribution the team was able to win," he concluded.
