Saif looking to capitalise if given an opportunity in his mother's country

Saif Hassan has a different kind of relationship with Sri Lanka. The young opener's grandparents' home is in Sri Lanka while coincidentally, his mother and the whole family now live in Bangladesh.

But Saif is currently in Sri Lanka to play two Tests against the hosts.

Saif couldn't find a place in the XI in the Tests against the West Indies as Shadman Islam was preferred over him. He didn't do particularly well in the warm-up game ahead of that series and that prompted the selectors to leave him out.

It will be challenging for the right-hander this time around too against Sri Lanka as the selectors are likely to take a call looking at the performance of the intra-squad games.

Bangladesh are already in Sri Lanka to play a two-match Test series. With Tamim Iqbal being the automatic pick as an opener, Shadman and Saif are in a direct tussle to bag the slot of his partner.

One of them will be selected based on the performance of two two-day warm-up matches. Saif, who was in good form against Ireland Wolves and in the NCL, is up for the challenge. 

After completing a three-day in-room quarantine, the members of the Bangladesh team started training on Thursday. 

Saif said, "Scoring runs gives you a lot of confidence. I think batting and fitness sessions went well. Overall the preparation is going really well. The confidence is there as well. I will try my best to capitalise if given an opportunity."

After a successful series against Ireland Wolves, Saif began the NCL campaign with a hundred. He carried his form in the next match as well, scoring 42 and 64.

He believes these performances will help him do well. 

"We prepared really well ahead of the West Indies series. We (the ones who were left out) had great practice sessions. We had a terrific series against Ireland Wolves. Also, the NCL was a great preparatory stage ahead of this tour. I hope those performances will help," Saif said. 

"The warm-up matches are really important. It's the only opportunity for us to acclimatise to the weather here. We have to understand the nature of the wickets here. So the matches and all the practice sessions are very important," Saif added.

The right-handed opening batsman made his Test debut in Rawalpindi last year.

He hasn't been able to cement his place in the side yet. Saif Hassan's last appearance in Tests was in February 2020 against Zimbabwe.