Life in the fast lane is nothing new to Nahid Rana. Over the past year, the 22-year-old seamer has drawn a lot of attention as a pace bowler who can reach speeds of up to 150 km/h and a biker in his spare time.
He has acquired the title of fastest bowler in Bangladesh’s history by recording speeds never before attained by bowlers from that nation.
Given that Nahid grew up playing taped tennis ball cricket in Rajshahi and did not pick up a hard cricket ball until his late teens, this ascent is all the more remarkable.
However, he is now prepared for his first taste of an ICC global event at the forthcoming Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, a prospect he is excited about after establishing himself in the Tigers squad.
“The greatest source of inspiration is the chance to play against the world’s top cricket players,” he stated.
“I’m having a great time watching international cricket. Although everything have transpired quickly, I am thankful for everything.
“Adapting to international cricket is never easy, but I was fortunate to play a sizable amount of first-class matches prior to making my debut.
That, in my opinion, is the best thing that could have occurred because it exposes you to a wide range of scenarios and circumstances. International cricket, however, is at a very different level.
Every day, both on and off the field, I gained knowledge from the coaches and more seasoned players about training, body maintenance, nutrition, and comprehending and carrying out plans.
“The squad used me as an offensive option and expected me to bowl quickly. I made an effort to reciprocate the faith by remaining modest and focusing on my talents.
In March 2024, Nahid Rana made his Test debut against Sri Lanka, and he quickly made an impression by capturing three wickets in the first innings of the match.
Later in the year, he improved on his efforts in Pakistan, most notably by dismissing Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood, and Babar Azam in three straight overs in Rawalpindi to lead his team to a 2-0 series victory.
Nahid Rana hopes to continue where he left off when the Tigers return to the same location for their Group A matches against the hosts and New Zealand.
“The fast bowlers had smaller margins and we played on pitches that were excellent for batting,” he remarked.
Despite this, we bowled incredibly well as a fast bowling group by making the appropriate changes.
“We must concentrate on carrying out our plans correctly because the pitches could be even better for the Champions Trophy.”
As he navigates the global scene, Nahid Rana has looked to his more seasoned countrymen, such Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, and Hasan Mahmud, for direction.
With his abilities developed in the streets of the Chapainawabganj area, which borders India, Nahid’s raw pace is what sets him apart from his fellow citizens.
He claimed that the area is more well-known for its mangoes than for cricket or any other sport.
I felt I was much faster than those around me because I was mostly playing cricket with taped tennis balls. My height allowed me to extract more natural bounce.
“Alamgir Kabir, a former national pacer and divisional coach for Rajshahi under the Bangladesh Cricket Board, urged me to apply that innate talent to bowling with a cricket ball.
We worked on a few technicalities, including my run-up, and fortunately, I was able to adjust fast. The coaches and selectors noticed something different in me, although I rarely move at a high rate.
A great future seems to be in store for Nahid Rana, but he is staying grounded and has much to do off the cricket field, even though he doesn’t have as much free time as he used to.
“Any free time these days is spent catching up with friends and family,” he remarked.
When I’m at home in Chapainawabganj, I enjoy riding my motorcycle and fishing, which was one of my favorite activities.
“We have cats at home, and I love them, but the cricket calendar is so busy these days that I rarely have time to visit.”
Although Nahid acknowledges that he is not setting goals for speeds he might achieve in the future, he will be among the speedier bowlers in the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy, a list that also includes players like Jofra Archer and Kagiso Rabada.
He stated, “I would prefer to focus on finding the proper rhythm and my release.”
“I’ve discovered that the secret to bowling quickly is to take care of your body and maintain your fitness. I’ll know the pace is appropriate if I’m feeling good.
“However, it’s a pleasant feeling to see or hear that the speed is about 150 kph.”
India
