Rana breathes fire on home ODI debut

Nahid Rana made his way into international cricket with the Sri Lanka Test in March 2024, and emerged as a pace demon in the Rawalpindi Tests against Pakistan that year, but after a few underwhelming performances in away ODIs, some doubts crept in.

For Rana, a place in the XI in the first ODI against Pakistan yesterday was not a given. However, once included in his very first ODI game at home, the 23-year-old ran through Pakistan in a way reminiscent of the two Tests in Rawalpindi two years back.

Pakistan had made a solid start, reaching 39 for no loss before Rana joined the attack in the 10th over.

His first delivery lifted the match from a mundane state to an adrenaline pumped affair, the length delivery zipping off the surface and moving away at serious pace, leaving Sahibzada Farhan, who looked quite comfortable before that over, perplexed.

A loose fourth delivery was pounced on by Sahibzada but Rana came back with vengeance, producing another unplayable delivery that beat the bat, creating anticipation that great fast bowlers produce before releasing the wicket-taking delivery.

The last ball of the over gained on Sahibzada, who failed to adjust to the extra bounce and edged it to point.

Rana’s first over was the premonition of destruction and the visitors’ slightly inexperienced lineup soon felt his wrath.

Debutant Shamyl Hossain knew what was coming for him in Rana’s next over but raw pace, angled at his body, saw him top-edge the ball, which landed safely into Litton Das’s gloves.

Maaz Sadaqat had started well on his ODI debut but another delivery into the body from around the wicket saw him hurried into a top-edge that went to fine-leg.

Mohammad Rizwan is no debutant, still, Rana’s peach of an out-swinger sucked him in and Litton took a fine catch as Pakistan’s good start turned into a Mirpur nightmare.

A planned execution of another short delivery to Salman Agha produced the desired result as Tanzid Hasan Tamim fumbled before taking a sharp catch at short-leg.

In a devastating seven-over spell, Rana completed his maiden five-wicket haul in ODIs, finishing with five for 24. Pakistan were eventually bowled out for just 114 in 30.4 overs, and the fate of the game was pretty much decided in the first innings.

“Each batter has a weak area, but I believe in always trying to focus on my area of strength first,” Rana, the player-of-the-match, said in the post-match press conference. “In international cricket, skill matters more than pace and that’s what I am working on.”