DHAKA, Feb 19, 2025 (BSS)-Fast bowler Nahid Rana became the center of all
attraction as Bangladesh gear up to take on India in their Champions Trophy
opener tomorrow (Thursday) at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

His raw pace, his ability to topple 150 km/h effortlessly, made him the new
poster boy of country's cricket.

As Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto addressed the media in Dubai
ahead of their first game, most of the questions he faced, specially from the
overseas journalists was about Nahid Rana.

As Nahid is going to play his first ICC event, all eyes will be on him but
captain Najmul Hossain Shanto believes the young fast bowler has the ability
to be unfazed by pressure.

"In the last few matches he bowled really well and bowled fast, as you
mentioned. And when we see in the ground bowling like this, it helps our
whole bowling unit," Shanto said.

"And it's motivated us how we can give opponent a lot of challenge. So that
is one thing I really like."

Shanto wants Nahid to stay fit, "But what I want, he needs to be fit and he
can continue his bowling form."

I hope he will continue and we have got another two - three fast bowlers as
well. We have a couple of good bowling units, so I hope they will continue
their form, shanto said.

Nahid's inclusion made Bangladesh's fast bowling department complete.

With the likes of Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahma, Tanzim
Hasan Sakib already making the attack potent, Nahid's inclusion brought up
the aggressive mode that could tear apart any opponents in any condition.

While Bangladesh always struggled with the seam attack, the rise of this pace
bowling department caught a huge attention.

Shanto thanked Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to help the pace bowling
department's rise by taking various initiatives.

"I think the important thing is the wicket and the ball has been changed in
first class cricket," he said.

"We play with the Duke ball, so the fast bowlers wanted to bowl a lot of
overs and we get a little bit charged."

"And obviously there is a lot of local coaches and obviously overseas coaches
there, so they helped and they motivated the fast bowlers," Shanto said.

"That is one thing the ball has changed and the wicket and thanks to BCB the
way they think about our fast bowlers."

So that's the reason of our first bowlers rejuvenation,' he said.

Shanto expects Nahid to come all guns blazing against India in tomorrow's
match.

"Recently he played one Test match against them, so he had that little bit of
experience, but he has to deliver tomorrow," Shanto said.

"What I see him; he is not someone looking to the opponent a lot. He just
think about how he is executing his plan."

"So, I hope he will, if he is playing tomorrow, he will execute his plan and
try to do well for the team," he concluded.