The pre-match press conference was dominated by questions about Nahid Rana. Most of the queries from Indian media focused on the Bangladeshi pacer. Yet, when the playing XI was announced, Rana was nowhere to be seen! Adding to the surprise, experienced all-rounder Mahmudullah was also left out of the squad for the crucial match against India at the Dubai International Stadium.
Once the game began, sources from the team revealed the reasons behind their absence. The official explanation for Rana’s omission followed the usual safe reasoning—”team combination.” In other words, the team management decided he didn’t fit the tactical setup for this match.
As for Mahmudullah, he suffered a muscle strain in his right leg during Bangladesh’s first practice session in Dubai. He hasn’t fully recovered, which is why he was ruled out of the match.
Despite the heavy focus on Rana during the press conference, there was already a hint that he might not play. Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto repeatedly used cautious wording, saying, “If he plays tomorrow…” When asked later if there was any doubt about Rana’s inclusion, the team management assured that he was in contention. Rana even bowled briefly in the nets at the ICC Academy.
During the BPL, Rana played back-to-back matches for Rangpur Riders, and his pace had noticeably dropped toward the end of the tournament. There were already concerns about whether he was fatigued. His absence in this crucial Champions Trophy opener against India only reignites those doubts. However, the team insists that his exclusion is purely due to tactical reasons.
Even without Rana, Bangladesh has fielded three pacers—Tanzim Hasan, Taskin Ahmed, and Mustafizur Rahman. This suggests that, at least for this match, the management believes these three offer a better option than Rana.
