Shanto banks on pacy Rana to rattle India

DUBAI: Spin is Bangladesh's most bankable factor across formats. It therefore came as a surprise when captain Najmul Hossain Shanto spoke about pace being a big strength of his side as they take on India here today.

Much of Shanto's confidence comes from the presence of young tearaway fast bowler Nahid Rana . Unlike most Bangladesh pacers, who have relied on cutters, Rana, just 22, can rattle the batters by generating speed in excess of 150kph, and bowling consistently at 145kph.

At the pre-match presser on Wednesday, when Shanto was asked how much fun it was to have someone like Rana in the team, the skipper said: "Very happy. In the last few matches, he has bowled well and fast. It helps our whole bowling unit. It's helped us to challenge our opponents. But he needs to be fit and continue his form. We have got two or three others as well. We have a good bowling unit."

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Shanto credited the Bangladesh Cricket Board's decision to play domestic cricket with the Dukes ball, and the right coaching, as the big reason behind this turnaround.

"I think the important thing is the change in pitches and ball in First Class cricket. We play with the Dukes ball, so the fast bowlers want to bowl a lot of overs. There are a lot of local coaches and overseas coaches who have helped our pacers," Shanto said.

Rana has done well in his nascent career, having taken 20 wickets in six Tests and four scalps in three ODIs for Bangladesh. Rana has bowled in just one match vs India, the opening Test in Chennai in Sept last year and went for 1-82 & 1-21 as India scored a 280-run win. However, this sample size isn't enough to judge what he could do on Thursday.

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"Recently, he played one Test against India), so he has that experience, but he must deliver on Thursday. He is not someone who thinks about his opponents a lot. He just thinks about how he is executing his plan," Shanto said.

Rana, who grew up playing taped tennis ball cricket in Rajshahi, has travelled in quick time to become Bangladesh's quickest-ever pacer. Having established himself in the Tigers squad, Rana is now ready for his first taste of an ICC global event.

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