Nahid Rana, who had only taken four wickets in six T20s, delivered a match-winning performance for Rangpur Riders by claiming four wickets in a single match.
After Paul Stirling hit a six off a full toss outside the off-stump, Nahid immediately dismissed him in the very next ball. In his next spell, he conceded a six to Zaker Ali on the first ball but took revenge by dismissing him on the very next ball. Twice he glared at the batsman before celebrating his wickets with a roar.
This roar suits Nahid perfectly. The young pacer from Rangpur Riders single-handedly dismantled Sylhet Strikers’ batting lineup, delivering a brilliant bowling performance. The 22-year-old pace bowler, who bowled freely and independently, guided his team to a splendid victory.
In his previous six T20 matches, Nahid had just four wickets. But in this game, he claimed four wickets in a single match! Combining pace and bounce beautifully, he delivered a spell that was a treat to watch, earning him the title of Man of the Match with four wickets and two catches.
On the opening day of the BPL, Nahid had bowled brilliantly against Dhaka Capitals. Although he didn’t take any wickets that day, he impressed coach Mickey Arthur with his outstanding performance, conceding only 11 runs in 3 overs.
Nahid redeemed himself the very next day, taking two wickets in each of his two spells in a misty evening at Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. In his first spell, he dismissed Zakir Hasan and Stirling, while in his second spell, he removed Zaker Ali with a fiery catch.
Although Nahid could have had another wicket in the 16th over, a dropped catch by Rakibul Hasan off Tanjim Hasan denied him. However, Nahid finished his spell with four wickets for 27 runs, leading Rangpur to a 34-run victory with a total of 155 runs.
After the match, Rangpur’s captain, Sohan, expressed hope for Nahid to repeat such performances often. He mentioned, “Nahid is bowling independently with great speed. He’s giving his best and bowling really well.”
Though young pacers like Nahid are prone to injuries, former Australian pacer and Chittagong Kings’ head coach, Shaun Tait, has advised proper care for his long-term career.
In 2024, Nahid played six Tests and three ODIs for the national team. Although he was called up for the T20 squad, he hasn’t featured in any match yet. Sohan is also cautious about managing his workload, saying, “Nahid knows how to take care of himself and is well aware of how to manage his workload. The BCB physio and trainers are also monitoring him, so I don’t think it will be a big issue.”
With careful management, Nahid’s future in pace bowling looks promising.
