Nahid Rana runs like the wind from the Pavilion End at the Rawalpindi Stadium. He shoots the ball like a slingshot, from a great height – after all, he is 1.88 m tall. The 140 km/h throws slam into Litton Das’ gloves behind the goal posts.
It is still sweltering hot in Rawalpindi. There are barely 100 people in the stands. Rana, like so many other fast bowlers from the subcontinent, is used to bowling in empty stadiums. It is no different in Rawalpindi, home of perhaps the most famous “Express” in cricket. On this gloomy Monday morning, it is possibly even worse.
But as Rana bowls, a certain anticipation seems to be building up among the Bangladeshi fielders. They are enjoying it. Taskin Ahmed, who is at fine leg, has a big smile on his face. The batters are being rushed ball after ball. By a Bangladeshi fast bowler. When one ball hits the outside edge, the next one is already at their throat. It is exciting. This is not like anyone who has ever bowled for Bangladesh. It is like the end of a long wait. The stands should have had more people.
Rana hits 150 kmph a couple of times. He crossed 150 on his Test debut against Sri Lanka. He is not a complete stranger to Pakistan – they have seen him quite a lot in the last two weeks. But – you may have heard this before – “pace is pace, mate”.
He strikes on his third ball. Shan Masood’s venture outside the off stump earlier in the day costs him the win – Rana’s extra pace quickly brings him to bat.
Babar Azam had faced Rana just before Masood’s dismissal, but the first ball of his next over, Babar’s forward press, hits the outside edge. It is a poor shot choice. The edge goes to Shadman Islam at first slip.
However, the same fielder drops Mohammad Rizwan’s next ball. For the in-form batsman, it would have been a golden duck, a regular chance. Rana has his hands on his head. But there is another reward waiting for him. First in the form of Saud Shakeel, who is caught for two in Rana’s next over.
Pakistan’s captain. Their most celebrated batsman. A batsman who averaged 61.55 before this Test. Bangladesh had plans for all three, and they all focused on Rana messing them up with pace. On that day, Rana sent them all back in his first three overs.
He doesn’t celebrate after every wicket. He walks over to the fielders with a smile on his face, a very retro feeling. It also feels a bit out of place – we are in Rawalpindi of all places.
Pakistan falter and Raza continues to bowl quickly, testing the lines against Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha. He charges at Rizwan, who gets out at the last moment due to movement behind the screen. Rana charges back with a bouncer next ball. It hits Rizwan on the side of the helmet. Taskin has a word or two from fine leg. Hasan Mahmud mimics Litton’s stance as he reins in Rana. The other slipfielders stifle a laugh. Litton laughs at Mahmud. The Bangladeshis love it. At 86 for 6, lunch couldn’t have come any quicker for the home team.
Rana is not done yet. He returns for a brief second outing after lunch, pulling Salman’s lead once. Najmul Hossain Shanto brings him back for a third outing once Abrar Ahmed strikes in the 42nd over. Rana removes the number 10 quickly but cannot get his fifth wicket. Mahmud, who has bowled superbly since the third evening, completes his five wickets instead.
Hasan was Bangladesh’s best fast bowler in the two Tests. Shoriful Islam was disciplined in the first Test (before missing the second through injury) and Taskin led the attack in the second Test. But Rana is the centre of the story. And not just because of that performance. His pace was significantly faster than anyone else’s.
In general, Bangladesh’s bowling attack was better than Pakistan’s throughout the series. In this Test, Khurram Shahzad and Amir Hamza reduced Bangladesh to 26 for 6 in the first innings but could not finish the job. As did Mahmud and Rana on the fourth day. They showed that they either have better skills or better execution. What Rana, playing only his third Test, did well was combine his pace with great lines and lengths.
And all this from a fast bowler who only picked up the red ball for the first time four years ago.
Rana started playing cricket seriously when his brother sent him to a cricket academy in 2020, soon after graduating from college. He made his first-class debut in October 2021 and took 32 wickets in the following season. Rana and Sumon Khan had both taken 30-plus wickets in the 2022–23 National Cricket League, a first for fast bowlers in the domestic first-class tournament in more than 11 years.
Rana, 21, is a new phenomenon in Bangladesh cricket. A thorough fast bowler who can bowl consistently fast for long periods. Rana’s BPL debut was mixed but he showed his pace in every outing. No Bangladeshi fast bowler has appeared in the BPL with this pace since Taskin.
Pace bowling has never been Bangladesh’s thing. Looking back in history, Daulat Uz Zaman represented East Pakistan in Pakistan’s domestic first-class competitions in the 1960s and 1970s and was known for his speed. Jahangir Shah Badsha was a well-known pace bowler but when he made his ODI debut he was in his mid-30s. Mashrafe Mortaza had good pace early in his career but injuries took their toll. Shahadat Hossain took four of the first six five-wicket hauls in Tests for Bangladesh fast bowlers but his career soon went off the rails. Rubel Hossain bowled quickly at times but he was better with the white ball. Rana has looked like the real deal so far.
But there are reasons to be cautious too. Robiul Islam took 15 wickets in two Tests against Zimbabwe in 2013 but quickly faded away. Ebadot Hossain took an impressive six wickets in that famous win at Mount Maunganui and showed general improvement after that but has not played since December 2022 due to a long-term injury.
Rana will be given a lot of advice, but he should know that he is special. He is the fastest bowler Bangladesh has ever played. Fitness and health are key. The most important thing for a budding Bangladesh star is to stay on the right track. Rana will not be spoiled. And the new BCB management will be responsible for keeping him fresh and making him bowl fast.
