Chattogram: Fast bowler Nahid Rana expressed confidence in his ability to play cricket continuously, asserting that he is well aware of when to rest. Nahid’s workload became a topic of discussion after the Rangpur Riders made him available for all their matches, despite the common practice of resting fast bowlers with raw pace to prevent fatigue.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Nahid Rana, after a practice session at the MA Aziz Stadium, stated, “A cricketer knows well about his workload. A cricketer knows well about his body and when to stop. I think I feel well at this point.” He added that the Rangpur Riders’ team management, along with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), is looking after his well-being, ensuring everything is going smoothly.
Nahid Rana gained attention during a Test series against Pakistan, where his raw pace played a crucial role in unsettling the opposing batters, leading to a historic series victory. Since then, he has been playing continuously, raising concerns about whether a fast bowler of his caliber should participate in every match without adequate rest.
While acknowledging the universal policy of rotating fast bowlers to keep them fresh for crucial matches, Nahid admitted the importance of both physical and mental rest. He emphasized that the Rangpur Riders management is attentive to his needs and assured, “I feel well physically, and Rangpur is also helping me in this regard. They are not putting pressure on me. They rather said when you need rest, just tell us. So when I feel that I need rest, I will tell them.”
Rangpur Riders’ assistant coach Mohammad Ashraful echoed these sentiments, highlighting Nahid Rana’s eagerness to play. “He is young, extremely talented, and knows well how to maintain himself, but of course, a fast bowler needs rest,” Ashraful remarked. He also mentioned that the team is cautious about not overburdening Nahid, and they have allowed him to skip practice when he requested rest after the Sylhet phase of the BPL.