Former West Indies fast bowler and acclaimed commentator Ian Bishop has singled out Bangladesh fast bowler Nahid Rana as a potential superstar of world cricket. Despite Rana’s absence from the ongoing Mirpur Test against West Indies due to injury, his name frequently echoed around the commentary box over the past two days, highlighting the immense reputation the young speedster has established in international cricket within a remarkably short period.
Rana is currently undergoing rehabilitation in Australia as he battles to recover from an injury that has kept him out of action. He is scheduled to resume bowling in Australia from Thursday, a crucial step that will determine his timeline for returning to competitive cricket. Though sidelined, Rana remains central to conversations regarding Bangladesh’s fast-bowling revolution. His natural ability to generate formidable pace and steep bounce has earned him admiration across the cricketing world. Bishop had previously expressed similar disappointment when Rana missed Bangladesh’s series against Australia in August.
Speaking about the 22-year-old’s raw potential, Bishop emphasised that genuine express pace is an extraordinary asset. He noted that while several exciting young pacemen are emerging globally, Rana is just as fast as most of them and faster than many. Bishop stressed that Rana possesses the rare capability to lift Bangladesh cricket to unprecedented heights, reminding authorities that raw speed cannot simply be purchased, making players of Rana’s calibre highly sought after by every international team. However, to fulfill this potential, keeping him fit and managing his workload remains paramount.
Bangladesh’s pace attack has shown commendable growth even in Rana’s absence. During their recent tour of Australia, Bangladesh secured a victory in the Darwin Test without Rana, bolstered by Hasan Mahmud’s five-wicket haul. In the subsequent Test in Mackay, left-arm seamer Shoriful Islam took seven wickets.
Impressed by these performances, Bishop recalled the legendary era of West Indian fast bowling while watching Hasan Mahmud’s opening spell in the first innings against the West Indies. He noted that Bangladesh’s strategy of nurturing a potent seam attack is the correct pathway to securing consistently successful Test results away from home, as relying solely on spin coupled with a single lone paceman is no longer sufficient on foreign shores.
