![Ian Bishop has urged Bangladesh to manage Nahid Rana [Source: AFP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1793278971607_NahidRanaforBangladesh.jpg?type=hq)
Ian Bishop has urged Bangladesh to manage Nahid Rana [Source: AFP]
Bangladesh have a pace talent in Nahid Rana, but managing his workload may prove just as important as getting the best out of him.
Former West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop has voiced concern over how the young quick is handled, warning that the push for immediate results should not come at the cost of his long-term future.
Ian Bishop urges Bangladesh to prioritise Nahid Rana’s fitness
Ian Bishop has urged Bangladesh to take a long-term approach to managing Nahid Rana, stressing that the young fast bowler's fitness must take priority over immediate gains on the field. The former West Indies pacer, who is currently commentating on the Bangladesh-West Indies series, believes the team must be cautious with a player capable of generating exceptional pace.
"Don't kill the goose that lays the golden egg because you want immediate success," Bishop said.
Rana has attracted attention for regularly bowling at speeds exceeding 150 kmph, making him one of Bangladesh's exciting pace prospects. However, his progress has also faced interruptions due to injury.
The former fast bowler believes Rana's recovery must be handled patiently, rather than bringing him back into international cricket before he is ready.
"When you look around the world and see young fast bowlers coming through, Nahid is probably as fast, if not faster, than most. I was salivating at the prospect of seeing him in Australia on bouncier pitches.
So I was disappointed when that [injury absence] happened. But his health is the most important thing. Once that is regained, don't rush him back into international cricket because fast bowling is strenuous on the body," Bishop said.
Ian Bishop believes Bangladesh's strength and conditioning team must play a central role in ensuring Rana can sustain his workload over the coming years.
"Some bodies are predisposed to injury more than others. I know that from having stress fractures myself. So you have got to be very careful with your S&C [Strength and Conditioning] guys to make sure they try to bulletproof Nahid Rana with strength work," he explained.
Nahid Rana’s marvellous 2026 stint for Bangladesh
Nahid Rana's performances in 2026 underline why Bangladesh have so much reason to invest in his development. After taking 24 wickets in nine matches in 2024, his numbers dipped to 10 wickets from seven matches in 2025.
However, he produced a significant improvement in 2026, claiming 44 wickets in 16 matches across formats at an average of 18.31.
During Bangladesh's ODI series against Zimbabwe in July 2026, he claimed six wickets for 21 runs in the first match. He also picked up a wicket in the second ODI, finishing the two-match stretch with seven wickets across both formats of the series.
Against Australia in June, Rana took four wickets for 41 runs in the first ODI, although he went wicketless in the second. His T20I outings included figures of 1/36 against Australia and 4/26 against Zimbabwe, demonstrating his ability to contribute across formats.
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.jpg?type=mq "Highest Individual Score vs Sri Lanka In ODIs")
