Nahid Rana has been in excellent form lately. Performing consistently for the national team, he has already gained the respect of his opponents in his debut year. Now, he has carried that momentum into the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).
Clocking speeds of 140 km/h has become a habit for him. While such pace bowlers are prone to injuries, the 6’5” tall Nahid isn’t too concerned. He acknowledges these risks but remains determined to push forward.
In his most recent match against Dhaka Capitals, he picked up 3 wickets for just 21 runs and earned the Player of the Match award. After the game, the 22-year-old shared his perspective:
“When people go to war, they face bullets; similarly, when you play cricket, injuries are inevitable. I’m maintaining my fitness regime and following all the schedules provided by the BCB.”
Maintaining fitness is crucial for managing injuries. Under the supervision of BCB and Rangpur Riders’ physiotherapists, Nahid is focusing on staying fit. He explained:
“Baizid bhai, the physio, is in touch with me. Sajib bhai from the Rangpur team also helps. I regularly communicate with them. During the gap after my last ODI in the West Indies, I was given a fitness and match plan, which I followed. The BCB has assured me my body is fine, and I feel the same.”
In this year’s BPL, Nahid’s on-field performance has drawn significant praise, even from big names like Alex Hales, Shaheen Afridi, and Shaun Tait. However, Nahid remains humble, saying:
“I try to stay away from these things. People will always praise others, and while it feels good to hear, I believe staying detached from such recognition keeps the hunger for improvement alive.”
Many cricketers have lost their way after early stardom, but Nahid is determined to avoid such a fate. He stated:
“I don’t consider myself a star. I’m just an ordinary person like you all, trying to stay grounded.”
