Saif the improved one

Bangladesh batter Saif Hassan has done what many of his peers could not. He stepped away from the national fold, returned stronger, and finally proved himself ready for the demands of international cricket.

After registering binary digits in his first two T20Is against Pakistan in 2021, just months after an underwhelming Test debut, it seemed the international arena was too daunting for the then 21-year-old. Fast-forward to 2025, Saif has undergone a metamorphosis -- not only in muscle and physique but in maturity and method -- finally looking like the player the selectors thought he would be.

Since his unexpected recall to the T20I side in late August for the home series against the Netherlands, Saif has amassed three half-centuries in 10 innings, beginning with an unbeaten 20-ball 36 in the opener. A crucial 30 against Afghanistan in the Asia Cup group stage, followed by a match-winning 61 against Sri Lanka that sealed Super Four qualification, and then a commanding 69 against India -- all showed how a batter once lost in the fray became the pillar of the lineup.

After a couple of misfires in the subsequent Afghanistan series in the UAE, Saif capped things off with an unbeaten 64 off 38 balls in Sharjah on Sunday. In doing so, the domestic stalwart put notions about his frailty in national colours to bed as doubters turned into admirers, not just because everyone loves a comeback story but because Bangladesh cricket has long been starved of genuine examples of players remodelling their game to thrive at higher levels.

It is almost poetic that a batter once dismissed as technically flawed now embodies the batsmanship so absent elsewhere in Bangladesh's order.

Saif's journey is not one of inflated redemption but of pragmatic evolution –- a player who has earned distinction from his peers through diligence, introspection, and sheer will to better himself rather than relying on the flattery of talent that so often leads young players astray. Too often, youngsters lean on inconsistent patches of domestic form without addressing technical flaws exposed at international level.

His transformation has almost erased the image of the lanky opener with a tentative, soft grip and a peculiar low backlift betrayed by hesitant footwork. Those days are gone. Now, a mature mind works in cohesion with a stronger frame. Assuredness defines his game: a minimal shuffle, a strong base, the alignment of head and front foot -- all combine to set him up for commanding options. A tighter grip, a higher backlift, and better balance between the top and bottom hand now gives him control and power -- a far cry from the tentative version of 2020.

Equally telling is his approach to scoring. Saif favours the straight boundary, opting for low-risk, high-reward strokes in the Powerplay. His flicks remain a strength; he rarely misses a chance to punish anything on his pads. But what sets him apart now is batsmanship. His clarity of thought, arising without premeditation, and his patience to play according to the merit of the ball and the game situation were evident in his latest knock, when he chose to see off Rashid Khan's over without bothering for a run.

This awareness, coupled with his leadership as a batter, has become even more prominent in the absence of long-serving middle-order mainstays and in contrast to the hit-and-miss style of many contemporaries. Saif's presence offers a cushion to a side transitioning from a generational gap.

Equally important, by setting a benchmark for the next in line, Saif's quiet evolution stands as a masterclass has shown what a meaningful comeback truly looks like.