Saif Hassan Confident of Final Berth After Bangladesh's Dominant Win Over Sri Lanka
Bangladesh opener Saif Hassan expressed confidence in his team’s ability to reach the final of the Inter-Continental Cup after a morale-boosting four-wicket win over Sri Lanka in their opening Super Four match.
Coming off a shaky group-stage performance in the Asia Cup, Bangladesh delivered a strong all-round effort, led by half-centuries from Saif Hassan (61 off 45) and Towhid Hridoy (58), to begin the next stage of the tournament on a high note.
"Yes, definitely we are confident of reaching the final," said Saif. "Before coming here, everyone believed that we would play the final. Now, we are one step ahead, but our focus is fully on the next match."
Bangladesh is scheduled to face India and Pakistan on September 24 and 25, respectively — fixtures that will likely decide the finalists.
Counter-Attack Key to Success
The match got off to a rocky start for Bangladesh, losing opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim for a duck in the opening over. However, Saif and captain Litton Das counter-attacked effectively before Litton fell for 23. Saif then stitched a crucial 54-run stand with Hridoy to stabilize the innings and maintain a healthy run rate.
“After Tanzid got out, the plan was to counter-attack,” Saif explained. “Litton Bhai guided me at the crease, telling me what to expect from the bowlers. Alhamdulillah, it worked.”
Saif credited pre-match planning and clear communication for the aggressive approach, especially during the PowerPlay. “There’s always a specific plan for each bowler. Everyone knows their role, and we try to execute our individual plans.”
Mustafizur Shines with the Ball
On the bowling front, Saif reserved special praise for Mustafizur Rahman, who played a key role in limiting Sri Lanka to 168 by claiming 3 for 20 in his four-over spell.
“Mustafizur Bhai has been in great form over the last few months. He always steps up in crisis situations,” said Saif. “He’s a world-class bowler, and his impact in pressure moments is invaluable.”
Shanaka Reflects on Sri Lanka's Missed Opportunity
Despite a valiant unbeaten 64 from Dasun Shanaka, Sri Lanka fell short on a pitch that offered plenty of runs.
“We were 10–15 runs short,” said Shanaka. “Initially, we were aiming for 160, but during the innings, we thought 180 was possible. They bowled well in the final overs, especially the 19th, where I couldn’t hit a boundary.”
Shanaka believed the turning point came down to just a couple of missed opportunities. “If Wanindu (Hasaranga) hadn’t gotten out trying for a boundary, we might have had those extra runs. Still, I felt 168 was defendable.”
The Sri Lankan skipper also pointed to execution issues in their bowling unit. “It wasn’t about the fifth bowler — our main pacers like Thushara and Chameera couldn’t hit their usual lengths. That allowed Bangladesh to stay ahead.”
Still in the Race
Despite the setback, Shanaka remains optimistic about Sri Lanka’s chances in the tournament.
“We have two matches left, against India and Pakistan. If we win both with a good net run rate, we can still qualify for the final. We’re staying positive,” he said.