Bangladesh ready to unleash their fastest-ever bowler at the Champions Trophy

It’s all hands on deck for the Tigers, if they’re to cause some upsets and progress past the group stage of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

The Bangladesh side will need contributors right the way through the ranks, with that reality arriving immediately, taking on the might of India in their first tournament match.

So what better time to unleash their young gun quick, who’s been clocking faster deliveries than anyone the country has ever seen?

Right-arm speedster Nahid Rana, just 22, is preparing for his maiden taste of ICC tournament cricket. But the raw speed he possesses means Bangladesh has a cricketing weapon that not every nation boasts, given that he’s capable of reaching speeds north of 150km/h. And they’re ready to see what he can do under the bright lights of the Champions Trophy.

As far as international experience goes, he’s been exposed to more red ball cricket so far, having played in six Tests in 2024 for the Tigers and just the three ODIs which all came later last year.

But the fire brand is relishing the opportunity he has against the world’s best, to let it fly and learn on the fly.

“The opportunity to play against the best cricketers in the world is the highest form of inspiration,” he said.

“I am enjoying every moment of international cricket. Things have happened very fast but I’m grateful for everything. It is never easy to adapt to international cricket but I was lucky in the sense that I got to play a good number of first-class matches before my debut.

“I feel that is the best thing that could have happened as you get exposed to all sorts of different situations and conditions. But international cricket is a totally different level altogether.”

There is reason to be optimistic that Nahid Rana can pay immediate dividends for the Tigers, having taken three wickets in his first Test innings, against Sri Lanka in March 2024 (five for the match).

And it’s been a stunning rise to prominence, emerging from obscurity in a fashion that could one day catch the eye of film-makers.

He only picked up a cricket ball in his late teens, having grown up in Rajshahi, on the Indian border.

“The place is more famous for mangoes rather than cricket, or any sport for that matter,” he continued.

“I was mainly playing taped tennis ball cricket (growing up) and could feel I was way quicker than those around me. I could extract more natural bounce because of my height.”

He’s proving to be a quick learner in more ways than one, having shown maturity beyond his years to ensure a more holistic approach to honing his cricketing craft.

Rana is laser focused on improving his discipline, both as a bowler and an athlete.

“I learned every day on and off the field, from fitness to how to take care of the body, the diet, understanding and executing plans, learning from the coaches and the more experienced players. I have learnt that looking after your body and staying fit is the key to bowling quick. If I feel good, then I know that the pace would be right.

“The team expected me to bowl fast and used me as an attacking option. I tried to repay the faith by sticking to my strengths and staying humble.

“I would rather concentrate on getting into the right rhythm and my release. But then again, when you see or hear that the pace is around 150kph, that’s a nice feeling.”