Sabbir Rahman, a name once synonymous with power-hitting in Bangladesh cricket, has been unable to live up to his potential when it mattered most. After raising hopes with a blistering knock the night before, Sabbir's performance in the crucial semi-final of the Zim Afro T10 League left Harare Bolts heartbroken. Chasing a spot in the final, Sabbir departed for a golden duck, dashing his team’s chances of reaching the ultimate showdown.

Despite his undeniable talent, consistency has often been the thorn in Sabbir’s career. This time, it cost Harare dearly. In the first qualifier, where Harare finished on top of the points table, they faced Joburg Bangla Tigers but were outplayed with ease. However, a second opportunity awaited them in the second qualifier against Cape Town Samp Army. Harare’s management showed faith in Sabbir, promoting him to open the innings after not getting a chance to bat in the first game.

Unfortunately, Sabbir's innings was cut short on the very first ball he faced, falling LBW to Ameer Hamza. His golden duck not only added pressure on his team but left Harare Bolts struggling at the outset. Sri Lankan batter Shehan Jayasuriya tried to hold the innings together, smashing 39 off 19 balls to lift Harare to a modest total of 98.

However, the total proved to be insufficient. Cape Town Samp Army, who finished fourth on the points table, chased down the target with ease. Brian Bennett’s rapid 46 off 18 set the tone, while Dawid Malan (19 off 14) and Jack Taylor (29 off 13) guided their team to a comfortable victory, reaching the target in just 7.1 overs with 9 wickets in hand.