Bangladesh cricket has always been known for its strong spin attack. However, in recent years, the rise of fast bowlers has started to change this narrative.
One name that is creating quite a buzz is Nahid Rana. At just 21 years old, Rana has already made a mark with his raw pace, consistently clocking speeds of 150 km/h.
His rapid rise in the cricketing world has given Bangladesh a happy selection dilemma, especially with established bowlers like Taskin Ahmed also in the mix.
Who is Nahid Rana? All you need to know about the young Bangladesh speedster
Nahid Rana is a promising young fast bowler from Bangladesh, born on October 2, 2002, in Chapainawabganj. Unlike many cricketers who start their careers early, Nahid began his journey in cricket at the age of 18.
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Despite not taking the traditional Under-19 route, he quickly caught the eye of selectors with his impressive performances in domestic cricket. Rana made his first-class debut in October 2021 for Rajshahi Division in the National Cricket League.
His breakthrough came in the 2022-23 season when he was the second-highest wicket-taker, with 32 wickets. This performance earned him a spot in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) with the Khulna Tigers, where he made his T20 debut in January 2023.
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Rana made his Test debut in March 2024 against Sri Lanka. Although Bangladesh lost the match, Rana's ability to consistently bowl over 140 km/h and take wickets made him stand out. His bowling against Pakistan in Rawalpindi, where he dismissed Babar Azam in the second Test, further created a buzz about him.
It’s incredibly exciting to see a young pace sensation making headlines, standing out among seasoned spin bowlers who’ve been the mainstay of the team...
— Abhishek AB (@ABsay_ek) September 2, 2024
At just 21 years old, Nahid Rana has been turning heads with his blistering pace, clocking 92 MPH on the Rawalpindi track &… pic.twitter.com/fqgwuRu6vx
Nahid Rana's career stats
| Format | Mat | Wkts | BBI | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 2 | 6 | 3/87 | 58.33 | 5.93 | 59 | 0 | 0 |
| FC | 17 | 69 | 5/62 | 25.08 | 4.01 | 37.4 | 5 | 3 |
| List A | 10 | 26 | 5/45 | 16.46 | 5.39 | 18.3 | 1 | 2 |
| T20s | 5 | 4 | 1/20 | 42.5 | 9.44 | 27 | 0 | 0 |
Rana's rise in Bangladesh cricket is nothing short of remarkable. His ability to bowl at high speeds has given Bangladesh's pace attack a new dimension.