Bangladesh’s young speed star Nahid Rana made a remarkable impact in the second Test against Pakistan, establishing himself as the standout performer in Bangladesh's pace attack. His raw speed posed significant challenges for Pakistan. But it was his composed and strategic approach that truly made a difference and steered the Tigers to white the Pakistan at their home.
On Monday in Rawalpindi, Rana reached speeds of 152 km/h, but it was his confident execution that shifted the match in Bangladesh's favour.
Shan Masood initially looked promising, but in Rana's first over, he was twice late on a slash through point, resulting in a catch behind on the second attempt. Babar Azam also fell victim to a delayed defensive shot. Mohammad Rizwan narrowly escaped a superb delivery that just missed the stumps, and in the same over, Rana delivered another excellent ball to dismiss Saud Shakeel. With three wickets in three consecutive overs, Rana was in contention for a five-wicket haul, ultimately finishing with an impressive four for 44 in 11 overs.
A few weeks earlier, the 21-year-old had been training solo at Mirpur's Academy Ground in preparation for the Pakistan Tests. When asked about his focus, he mentioned working on reverse-swing. By the end of the session, he had achieved significant movement. Despite the heat, Rana bowled eight overs and left the ground with a satisfied smile.
His determination to improve was evident, and his coach in the Dhaka Premier League and Bangladesh Premier League, Talha Jubair, believes this drive is crucial to Rana's success.
Talha, a former pace bowler, had been monitoring Rana since his U-19 days and noted that he used to bowl large no-balls, which cost him a place in the U-19 World Cup squad. To address this, Talha collaborated with Rana's local coach, Alamgir Kabir, to refine his run-up.
Talha emphasised that Rana's smooth action would enable him to bowl faster in the future, but it was his accuracy that would set him apart. Despite criticisms of his expensive spells in his debut series against Sri Lanka and the first Test in Rawalpindi, coaches decided to focus on his length rather than compromising his pace. In Rawalpindi, Pakistan's batters struggled due to his improved length.
Rana's youth means he is still developing, and it is essential to allow him to bowl at his natural pace. Coaches advised him to maintain his speed while working on his accuracy and length, particularly given his ability to generate extra bounce. This approach has been key to his recent success.
