My goal is not to get out: Saif
The 21-year-old, however, admitted that there was a difference in level between Test cricket and domestic cricket and he wants to raise his game to do well in Tests.
Bangladesh Test opener Saif Hassan is looking to bat for as long as possible and help the team get a good start when they take on Zimbabwe in the first Test in Mirpur on Saturday.
"My goal is to not get out when I'm batting in the nets so hopefully that comes in handy during the match," Saif told the media on Thursday.
The right-handed batsman explained that there was no room to take their opposition lightly, especially with the way Bangladesh have been doing in Tests recently.
"Honestly, we cannot take any team lightly but if we can do our jobs properly, something good can be achieved," Saif said.
Saif was happy with the way the team have been practicing over the last few days in Mirpur and felt that it would lead to a good result in the match: "The preparation has been very good for us and we have been practicing for two days. Even before we have been preparing in our own way and I hope that we can translate that in the match."
The 21-year-old, however, admitted that there was a difference in level between Test cricket and domestic cricket and he wants to raise his game to do well in Tests.
"It will not be easy but to get to Test level but I'm trying my best to get my game up to a level where I can do well in Tests. The idea is to prepare myself mentally to deal with the challenges of Test cricket and to score big if the opportunity arises," Saif explained.
Saif made his debut in the last Test against Pakistan at Rawalpindi but did not manage to score big and he expressed that he had to focus more when batting: "In the second innings against Pakistan, the ball stayed low and if I could have focused a bit more I could have managed it so I need to increase my focus and concentration levels."
Saif had previously revealed that it was his dream to open the batting with Tamim Iqbal and now that he has achieved that, he wanted to build big opening partnerships with the experienced left-hander.
"From a young age it was my dream to open the batting with Tamim Bhai and that came true. Now it's about playing a long innings and if I play well, that can be done. I was nervous in the first innings but in the second one I wasn't and everyone was very helpful," Saif concluded.
