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Bangladesh cricketer takes two-month break from cricket due to depression

Bangladesh cricketer takes two-month break from cricket due to depression

Bangladeshi all-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin has taken a two-month break from cricket, citing struggles with depression, as reported by Cricbuzz. The 27-year-old has reportedly informed the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) of his decision, which comes after he missed the recent Global T20 League and T20 World Cup 2024.

Saifuddin was selected for Bangladesh A’s upcoming matches against Pakistan Shaheens – a four-day game followed by three 50-over games. However, he was unable to join his Global T20 League team, the Montreal Tigers, as he failed to obtain his visa in time due to political unrest in Bangladesh.

According to a BCB official interviewed by Cricbuzz, the all-rounder was upset about not being selected for the Global T20 League and T20 World Cup. However, the official stated that the cricketer hoped the BCB would interpret his message in a positive light.

“On July 30th, after the A team announcement, he sent me an email expressing his mental distress over missing the Global T20 and the T20 World Cup. He requested a two-month break from all forms of cricket and urged that I view his letter positively. I replied ‘noted’ and said we need to discuss the matter further when he returns to Dhaka, so I can better understand what he’s going through,” the official statement.

The board’s medical committee officially reported that the right-arm seamer’s chest muscle injury prior to the Global T20 tournament was a contributing factor in his non-participation.

“Saifuddin sustained a rib injury and reported to the BCB a day prior to his scheduled July 24th departure. After assessing him, the medical staff determined it was too risky for him to travel for 20-22 hours with the persistent pain. “Despite initial treatment, Saifuddin’s condition did not improve, prompting the decision to withdraw him from the Global T20 tournament,” he added.

The board had approved the youngster’s NOC for the Global T20 tournament until August 8, as the A team was scheduled to travel to Pakistan on August 11. However, the official revealed Saifuddin requested the NOC to be extended until August 12.