Nahid Rana offered BBL contract [Source: AFP]
For years, Bangladesh cricket was known to produce only quality spin-bowlers, with hardly any world-class pacers coming through the ranks. Mashrafe Mortaza served Bangladesh for a long period of time, and apart from him, Taskin Ahmed made a name for himself, but the team lacked a menacing pacer in their ranks.
This all changed with the arrival of Nahid Rana, the tearaway right-arm pacer with the ability to destroy the best batting lineups in the world. While he struggled in 2025 for wickets, the Bangladesh pacer has certainly rejuvenated himself and has become the best ODI bowler in 2026.
In recent ODI games, the fast bowler has terrorised the likes of Pakistan and Australia, and the number speaks about his brilliance in the 50-overs format.
Nahid Rana's stellar ODI numbers in 2026
The right-arm Bangladesh bowler has been at his absolute best in 2026. Rana has played seven ODI games this year and has scalped 20 wickets, with an average of 16, and an economy rate of 4.78.
Bangladesh has dominated the ODI format this year, and the credit should be given to Nahid Rana, who bagged a fifer against Pakistan to destroy their famed batting lineup, and followed it up with yet another 5-wicket haul, this time against the Kiwis.
His best spell came against Australia in the first ODI on Tuesday afternoon. The tearaway pacer rocked the Aussies and grabbed 4/41 to help Bangladesh beat Australia for the first time since 2005 in an ODI match.
Nahid Rana offered BBL contract by Alex Carey
His breathtaking bowling spell against the touring Australian side impressed everyone, but one particular individual was particularly awestruck as he offered Rana a chance to play in the Big Bash League (BBL).
The Australian keeper-batter, Alex Carey became Rana’s victim in the first ODI, as the Australian batter struggled against the raw pace of Rana, and nicked one to the keeper. The setup was so beautiful that Carey urged the pacer to consider taking part in the BBL.
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"He can come to the Adelaide Strikers, if he wants," Carey said after the match.
BBL is the T20 franchise league in Australia, and Carey represents the Adelaide Strikers as he wants the young Bangladesh bowler to join him in the Strikers squad.
Bangladesh players who have played in the BBL
The Big Bash League is a huge T20 tournament in Australia, but only two Bangladesh players have been picked by the franchises. Shakib Al Hasan, the legendary all-rounder was the first one to play in the BBL.
Last season, the Hobart Hurricanes decided to rope in the wily spinner, Rishad Hossain, in their squad for BBL 2025-26. If Rana decides to try out his luck in the tournament, he’ll become just the third player from Bangladesh to play in the marquee competition.
Why Nahid Rana could be successful in BBL
Nahid Rana is quick, has control over his lines and lengths, and can be excellent on surfaces that offer help for the pacers.
So far, most of his success has come in home conditions, and that makes him a wonderful and intriguing prospect. The pitches in Bangladesh offer little to no help for the fast bowlers, and even in those conditions, Rana has excelled.
If he can terrorise the batters in home conditions which are not conducive for the pacers, imagine the wrath he can cause on the bouncy Australian wickets in the BBL.
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