Nahid Rana has issued a clear warning to any bowler tempted to target him with short-pitched deliveries, saying he will give as good as he gets, while also dismissing Babar Azam for the third time in Test cricket to help Bangladesh take a 46-run first-innings lead in the second Test against Pakistan in Sylhet.
Nahid’s comments came in the context of the Mirpur Test, where Shaheen Shah Afridi bowled a bouncer at Nahid when he came in to bat. That delivery, aimed at a fellow fast bowler, appeared to have precisely the wrong effect. In the final session of that match, Nahid dismantled Pakistan’s batting with a devastating spell, dismissing Afridi himself with a bouncer to seal the victory.
Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto had already delivered a pointed message after Mirpur: “If you bowl bouncers at Rana, you will get bouncers back. I would not bowl bouncers at Rana if I were them.”
Nahid, speaking at the press conference in Sylhet after taking three wickets, was equally direct. “I do not know whether they will think twice before bowling bouncers, but I can say this much: if anyone bowls a bouncer at me, I will not let it go easily. That much I can say.”
The dismissal of Babar Azam in the Sylhet Test was a masterclass in variation and planning. Babar had been batting fluently, bringing up his 31st Test fifty and causing Bangladesh genuine concern, when Shanto threw the ball to Nahid for a new spell. Within four deliveries, the Pakistan batter was back in the pavilion.
The key was a subtle but decisive change. After bowling at 149 kph in the previous delivery, Nahid reduced his pace to 139 kph on the wicket-taking ball and also pushed his length slightly back, targeting middle stump. Spotting the in-field placement, Babar attempted a lofted on-drive but could not adjust to the drop in pace, playing too early and lobbing a simple catch to Mushfiqur Rahim at mid-on for 68.
Nahid was measured in his assessment of the dismissal. “To bowl at a quality batter, you need quality bowling. If you introduce even a small variation in pace or skill, batters become uncomfortable. I just tried, and it worked.”
In three Tests against Nahid, Babar has now faced 39 deliveries, scored just 22 runs and been dismissed on every occasion, giving the young Bangladesh pacer a remarkable average of 7.33 against one of the world’s premier Test batters. Among bowlers who have dismissed Babar multiple times, only Josh Hazlewood with seven dismissals, Prabath Jayasuriya with six and Nathan Lyon with five sit above Nahid in sheer frequency, and they have had far more opportunities to build those numbers.
Nahid was equally modest when asked about the achievement. “Getting any batter out feels good. Every wicket matters to me and to the team. I just try to stay within my process and execute my plans to help the team.”
Despite his own outstanding contribution with the ball, Nahid was quick to point to Litton Kumar Das as the real turning point of the match. Litton’s century had rescued Bangladesh from 116 for 6 on day one and guided them to 278. “Our turning point was Litton da’s batting. Because we are bowling well, but if his century had not come, we would have been on the back foot. I think his century was the turning point,” Nahid said.
Taijul Islam also took three wickets for Bangladesh, while Taskin Ahmed and Mehedi Hasan Miraz each claimed two as Pakistan were bowled out for 232, handing Bangladesh their 46-run advantage.
