Daily Sun: You played in the U-19 World Cup (2020 edition) and a lot of players who played alongside you on that team had gotten their chance at the national team, but you still hadn't. At that time, what motivated you, and how did you work out?

Tanzim Hasan Sakib: Yes, that's a very good question. I even want this thing to come in the media for the upcoming players. Whenever my teammates got a chance on the national team, it never came to my mind that I also needed to be in the national team. I thought that whenever I make it to the national team I had to go there after being completely ready so that they can't drop me after playing one or two matches. During that time I was working a lot on my improvement, I was working on how to improve my skills. And my plan was to go to the national team with my best version. So that's what I was working on, I never thought that I needed to be in the national team right now, I gave myself some time, and tried to become more mature.

Daily Sun: You seem like more mature than your time, at times you must’ve felt demotivated that when I will get selected, there are times when people get impatient, did you ever grow impatient? And when you got impatient then you must have used some methods, that you can’t grow impatient and that you have to wait for your time?

Tanzim Sakib: Yes, exactly this that I have to wait for my time, actually everyone’s life is different. And each has their time of going to the national team and gets chances on various times. I waited for my opportunity, and I never got impatient because I had just started my career. After becoming the champion of U-19, the hunger to do better increased inside me. And that U-19 time helped a lot in my cricket career, my mindset became really strong. So, I never lost my patience and was at all times focused. And I had to focus on how I can give my best if a match is played tomorrow. I never thought much about the future, I always tried to stay in the present and I tried to improve myself.

Daily Sun: After that when you played your first international match against India and the moment you got Rohit Sharma is the moment you are in the world map, I mean wherever in the world you get Rohit out in any way, after that everyone watches every step of that bowler, what were you thinking when bowling that bowl to Rohit Sharma, because that was your debut match?

Tanzim Sakib: It was my debut match and Rohit Sharma was the opponent or there were team India. Actually, to be honest, I didn’t think of that for once. I was told that I am new I won’t be ready for Rohit Sharma. But I was sure that I would play with my strength, what is my strength? If I can bowl at the right places then I can make the new ball swing. I thought about what strength I have. And tried to utilise that on the field, but I didn’t think about who the opponent was.

Daily Sun: In the T20 World Cup (2024 edition), Virat Kohli and Surya Kumar Yadav, both were huge wickets for any bowler. What goes through you when you are bowling to players like them because you don’t play against them that much?

Tanzim Sakib: I keep one thing in mind a good ball is a good ball for everyone. It doesn’t matter if he is the number one batsman or a domestic-level cricketer, a good ball is a good ball for any batter. I always try to deliver my best bowl. And that was in my mind. Rather than getting their wickets, their wickets were more important for the team.

Daily Sun: When the captain gives you the bowl, then also you have this set play that you go after wickets?

Tanzim Sakib: Yes, sometimes I am asked to go after wickets, sometimes the job is done and we have to minimize the run, then he (captain) asks me to try and give dot balls.

Daily Sun: When you got selected for the World Cup, there was uncertainty about your selection, you were put against Saifuddin, was there at any point that you had this, that I had to prove I was better than Saifuddin or you were like that I have to prove what I am?

Tanzim Sakib: Exactly, I have to prove what I am. You cannot compare with anyone, every person in this world is different and I from my place will prove myself that’s the main thing. I always try to surpass myself; I never think that I have to surpass someone else any A or Z. I never think like that I always focus on how to cross and overcome my limitations and improve myself.

Daily Sun: Do you think at this moment Bangladesh have a really good chance of winning the series against India?

Tanzim Sakib: Of course, definitely. Bangladesh are very confident. And all of us are very confident. And I am hoping that this series will go very well for us. And we will return to the country with happy faces In Shaa Allah.

Daily Sun: Any personal goal?

Tanzim Sakib: No, I will try with everything I got so that we can be in a winning situation.