Bangladesh’s rising fast-bowling sensation, Nahid Rana, has set the cricketing world abuzz with his raw speed. The 22-year-old, who recently became the first Bangladeshi pacer to clock 150 kmph, is being hailed as the country’s own Shoaib Akhtar. As Bangladesh prepares for their ICC Champions Trophy opener against India, all eyes will be on Rana to deliver the knockout punch with his express pace.
Despite the excitement surrounding his speed, Rana remains grounded. He knows that sheer pace alone won’t be enough at the highest level unless coupled with accuracy and consistency. With 20 wickets in six Tests and four in three ODIs, he has already shown glimpses of his potential, but the challenge against a formidable Indian batting lineup will be his sternest test yet.
Najmul Shanto confident in Bangladesh’s bowling depth
Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto is optimistic about his team’s chances, emphasizing their well-balanced attack. “We have good memories against India. If we execute our plan well, we have a good chance,” he said in the pre-match press conference in Dubai.
Shanto expressed faith in his all-rounders and pacers, especially Rana, to rattle India. “We have some good fast bowlers, and if Rana plays, he will do the job. We have a good balance of spin and pace,” he added.
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India without Bumrah, Bangladesh ready to adapt
India will be missing their pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah due to a lower back injury, but Shanto made it clear that Bangladesh isn’t focusing on individual players. “Not thinking of Bumrah or any other individual. “In BPL couple of batters batted very well. We need to adjust. It’s not very high scoring compared to Pakistan,” he said. “We have a lot of supporters. We expect crowd to come and support us.”
Dubai’s pitches have historically been low-scoring, with an average first-innings total of 218. Shanto stressed the importance of his batters adjusting quickly, citing good performances in the Bangladesh Premier League as a confidence booster. With a strong contingent of fans expected in the stands, Bangladesh will be hoping to start their campaign on a high.
