Bangladesh chief selector Habibul Bashar believes fast bowler Nahid Rana should have featured in the recent Zimbabwe series, describing his injury as an unfortunate incident rather than the result of excessive workload.
Speaking at a press conference in Mirpur on Monday, Bashar said missing Nahid for the upcoming Australia tour is a major setback not only for Bangladesh but also for world cricket.
Nahid Rana and fellow pacer Taskin Ahmed were scheduled to travel to Australia on Monday night to consult specialist doctors regarding their injuries.
Bashar said Bangladesh’s Test squad has been the team’s most consistent unit in recent years, making the Australia series an exciting challenge. However, injuries to several key players have disrupted the team’s plans.
“We waited until the last moment in the hope that at least some of the injured players would recover for one Test. You rarely get your strongest XI every time, so we’ve selected the best possible squad from the players who are fit,” he said.
The chief selector also explained some of the squad selections. He noted that Jaker Ali earned his place after strong performances in domestic cricket, while Mahidul had long been considered a backup wicketkeeper. Bashar added that the selectors are planning not only for the current series but also for a busy international schedule ahead.
He also justified the inclusion of Soumya Sarkar, saying the team needed a right-handed opening batter and that Soumya’s previous experience in Australian conditions made him a suitable choice.
Addressing concerns over Nahid Rana’s workload, Bashar said the Bangladesh Cricket Board closely monitors every fast bowler using GPS data to manage their physical demands.
“There was a need for Nahid to play against Zimbabwe. Unfortunately, he got injured. The same injury could have happened during training or even in Australia. You can reduce the risk of injuries for fast bowlers, but you can never eliminate it completely,” Bashar said.
He described Nahid’s absence as a significant loss, praising the young pacer as one of the fastest bowlers in international cricket.
“Not having Nahid is a huge blow for us. But Australia have also played without Pat Cummins, and we’ll have to adapt without Nahid. We now expect Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Khaled Ahmed and Ebadot Hossain to step up and give their best,” he added.
