Mohammad Saifuddin, the pacer from Bangladesh has requested the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to exclude him from selection from all forms of cricket. The 27-year-old Saifuddin told the board that he is suffering from depression after missing out on the most recent ICC T20 World Cup and the Global T20 League.

After being picked for the Bangladesh ‘A’ side for the second four-day game and the three following one-day matches, Saifuddin made his appeal for a break. Because of the continued political unrest, hcould not secure a visa in time, which prevented him from playing for the Montreal Tigers in the Global T20 League as planned.

The Bangladesh A Team will go to Islamabad on August 10 for two four-day and three one-day matches against Pakistan Shaheens, the BCB said on Wednesday. The political unrest in Bangladesh forced the rescheduling of the matches. The new schedule calls for the first four-day match from August 13–16 and the second from August 20–23. August 26, 28, and 30 are the dates for the three one-day matches.

Saifuddin was upset that he could not play in the Global T20 League since his NOC was only valid till August 8 rather than August 12, a BCB official informed. Saifuddin was also disappointed about his omission from Bangladesh’s 15-man roster for the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

“He sent me an email on July 30, after the A team was announced, expressing his mental distress over missing the Global T20 and the last World Cup. He requested not to be considered for any form of cricket for the next two months and to view his letter positively,” a selection panel member said. “I replied ‘noted’ and mentioned we need to talk when he returns to Dhaka to understand what he’s going through,” the official added.

On July 26, Saifuddin suffered a rib injury during a workout, which made it more difficult for him to compete in the Global T20 League. Saifuddin was declared out of the league owing to the injury, which made it dangerous for him to travel a lengthy flight in such agony.