Dhaka:At just nine years old, Saif has set his sights on a remarkable cricketing goal dismissing former Bangladesh captain and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Tamim Iqbal with a googly. This ambition was shared during a light-hearted exchange with Tamim at the closing ceremony of the Robi Bowler Hunt.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, when asked whom he would like to bowl to if given the opportunity, Saif immediately named Tamim. The former Bangladesh opener inquired which delivery Saif would use to achieve this, to which the young bowler confidently responded, "Googly." Tamim reacted with a smile, stating, "I play googly well," which drew laughter from the audience.
Saif, who idolizes former South African Chinaman bowler Paul Adams, dreams of emulating his unorthodox bowling style to confound batters. Alongside Saif, 12-year-old left-arm orthodox spinner Shoaib also captured attention at the event. Both young talents have been added to the final group of 21 bowlers selected through the nationwide talent hunt program, bringing the total to 23 promising bowlers.
The initiative, which began with over 25,000 registrations, included trials at nine venues nationwide. A total of 143 bowlers were shortlisted, comprising 57 pacers and 86 spinners, with 108 male and 35 female participants. Following the trials, 21 bowlers were selected, with Saif and Shoaib recognized as special talents for their potential.
The BCB has outlined plans to develop these 23 bowlers, with some expected to join the activities of its High Performance (HP) Unit. However, opportunities will extend beyond those initially included in the HP program. The board is also planning to establish a development platform for talented bowlers who do not secure initial places, allowing them to continue honing their skills.
The BCB intended to announce details of this proposed platform at the ceremony, but Tamim held off on the announcement as planning was still in progress.