Bangladesh’s fastest bowler Nahid Rana is not too worried about being called the fastest bowler in the country.
Rana became famous after his international debut, as he was the first Bangladeshi to bowl at 150 kmph. He is expected to be a key player in Bangladesh’s pace attack for the ICC Champions Trophy because of his speed.
However, he knows that speed alone is not enough. A bowler must also be accurate.
“I’m not thinking about bowling at 150 kmph. My focus is on staying fit and bowling with good line and length,” Rana told Cricbuzz.
“Just bowling fast might work in one or two matches, but not in the long run. Line and length are very important,” he added.
“In cricket, if your line and length are good, you can do well on any pitch, in any condition. I want to make the best use of my chances and help my country.”
BPL provided good practice for Rana before Champions Trophy (fastest bowler)
Fastest bowler Rana believes the recent Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) was good preparation for the Champions Trophy, as it was played on batting-friendly pitches.
“As a bowler, I must be ready to play on any kind of pitch because, in international cricket, you never know what kind of surface you will get. Since BPL had good batting pitches, we had to take on the challenge. If we can bowl well there, we can do even better when conditions favor bowlers. When the pitch helps bowlers, you don’t have to work as hard. But on batting-friendly pitches, you truly test your skills,” said Rana.
“I have been preparing well for the Champions Trophy. I am working on my weaknesses to improve my performance. Learning never stops. I might make mistakes, but I will learn from them. Our goal is to take one match at a time and focus on team performance. Hopefully, we will do well together,” he added.
“He (Arthur) always says that a bowler should practice the same way he bowls in a match, and I try to follow that,” said Rana.
“The energy I put in during a match, I also put into practice. It has helped me a lot,” he added.
Rana understands that his role in ODIs is different, and he must adjust to the team’s needs.
“In ODIs, the team plan decides when I bowl. Sometimes, I need to control runs, and sometimes, I need to take wickets,” he said.
His life has changed a lot since joining the national team. Discipline is now a big part of his daily routine.
“My life before and my life now are very different. Earlier, I ate whatever I wanted and slept whenever I felt like it. Now, I have to think carefully before eating. I have to maintain discipline in everything,” said Rana.
“I had to stop eating fried food, pizza, and onion fritters. Now I eat fruits, protein, and healthy food,” he added.
“Earlier, my bowling length was not good. I worked very hard on it with all my coaches. Whenever I had free time, instead of going home, I went to Rajshahi to train with my coach, Alamgir Kabir. That helped me a lot, and I have seen the results,” said Rana.