Saif cites ACU inspection for mental strain in BPL

Saif Hassan’s BPL campaign with Dhaka Capitals was a story of numbers that did not add up at first — eight innings, 60 runs — before a sudden correction in the final league match against Chattogram Royals, when he struck a fluent 73.

Speaking after the match, Saif said his struggles earlier in the tournament were shaped as much by mental pressure as by form, revealing that an unexpected inspection by the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) had a lingering impact on his batting.

“In the first few matches I didn’t get runs, everyone saw that,” Saif said. “I was trying to stay in my process. It wasn’t happening. I probably over-tried and practised more than I should have.”

The situation intensified when ACU officials carried out a sudden inspection involving Dhaka Capitals players during the competition, with Saif saying the timing and manner of the visit left him unsettled.

“After the first two or three matches, since I wasn’t performing like last year, it didn’t seem normal to them,” he said. “They came suddenly and questioned me. That disturbed me.”

According to Saif, ACU officials arrived without prior notice, including one visit to the team hotel when players were resting.

“They came to the dressing room and also came to the hotel room the previous day,” he said. “I was resting, Gurbaz was sleeping. Normally, there should be prior communication. Coming like that felt disrespectful.”

Saif confirmed that the inspection yielded no adverse findings. “They didn’t take anything. Instead, they apologised,” he said. “After that, they kept saying sorry for the next few days.”

The episode had an unavoidable mental effect.

“For the next two or three matches, it could work in the back of your mind — what am I doing, what are they thinking?” he said. “Those thoughts can naturally affect you.”

A brief break proved decisive, with Saif saying he returned mentally refreshed for the final matches.

“After the break, I realised these things are not in my control,” he said. “I tried to come out of it.”

That mental shift was evident in Dhaka Capitals’ final group match, where Saif batted with freedom and clarity.

“In the last two matches I was in a very good mental space,” he said. “I played freely. Expectation brings pressure.”

Saif stressed that he plays cricket out of passion rather than financial motivation.

“I don’t play cricket for money. My family background is not like that. Naturally, I was very disturbed by the whole thing,” he added.

He added that Dhaka Capitals captain Mohammad Mithun later informed the board about the incident, following which further apologies were conveyed. Saif also confirmed that his phone was not seized.