Nahid Rana has played five Test matches so far. Today, the 22-year-old fast bowler made his ODI debut against Afghanistan. Just like in Test cricket, the young pacer has made a name for himself in ODI cricket with his pace. Even on Sharjah’s slow pitch, he consistently bowled around 145 km/h, reaching speeds of up to 151 km/h.
But it wasn’t just speed that impressed; his control during the first spell of his ODI debut was equally noteworthy. In his first 5 overs, he conceded just 13 runs and took 1 wicket. This performance left former West Indian fast bowler Ian Bishop, known for being one of the fastest bowlers at the start of his career, thoroughly impressed. Bishop, however, had to cut his career short due to injuries, finishing with 43 Tests and 84 ODIs.
Now, whenever Bishop sees a young fast bowler, he can’t help but get excited. After watching Rana’s first spell, where he made the speedometer skyrocket, Bishop shared his excitement on his X (formerly Twitter) account. He also advised keeping fast bowlers like Rana fit, saying, “Bangladesh needs to be proactive. They should hire the best strength and conditioning experts and dietitians. Nahid Rana and the fast bowling team should not be allowed to burn out. His speed is very impressive.”
Bishop’s concern is understandable. If we look at the history of pace bowlers in Bangladesh cricket, we can find stories of injuries, like those of Talha Jubair and Mashrafe Bin Mortaza. Taskin Ahmed, who initially rose to fame with his pace, also faced setbacks. But he worked hard to make a comeback. Bishop hopes Rana doesn’t face similar challenges, but he remains hopeful that the young bowler will continue to thrive.
