Rana's rehab ramp-up

For now, every measured spell in the nets is a warning to opponents: Bangladesh’s express lane is warming up.

Bangladesh’s speed-gun Nahid Rana is back thundering in at Sher-E-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, not in a match yet, but with enough bite in his run-ups to put Bangladesh’s pace plans back on track.

The 23-year-old fast bowler is in the ninth week of rehabilitation from a Grade 2 side strain and has resumed bowling, gradually increasing both his pace and workload, initially with short run-ups on Wednesday under the guidance of pace coach Talha Jubair.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) have already ruled him out of the Asian Games T20s in Japan, refusing to gamble with a fast bowler still rebuilding his rhythm.

Instead, the target is October in the UAE, where Bangladesh are scheduled to face Afghanistan for a Test match with competitive white-ball cricket also in sight through a tri-nation ODI series involving Zimbabwe.

Behind the scenes, Rana’s return is being managed with modern precision, not gut feeling.

Chief selector Habibul Bashar previously stressed that Bangladesh are tracking fast bowlers through GPS data and a workload “zone” system: green for ideal load, yellow for caution, red for danger.

The message is clear: bowl too much and you break down; bowl too little and your body loses the rhythm that keeps it safe at full tilt.

That is why Rana is being built, not parked.

Media reports also indicated the speedster is unlikely to be granted a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) for the Big Bash League (BBL), despite reported interest from franchises: Adelaide Strikers and Melbourne Renegades, with Bangladesh prioritising his fitness for international duty.

With home Tests against the West Indies later this year and a demanding tour of South Africa looming, Bangladesh cannot afford to rush their newest pace weapon or lose him again.