Young pace sensation Nahid Rana got charged up and regained his usual pace after a break following the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), said Bangladesh national cricket team's head coach Phil Simmons.
Nahid, considered as the fastest bowler of Bangladesh, seemed to have lost some pace, as evidenced in some matches for Rangpur Riders in the BPL toward the end.
The young prodigy featured in Rangpur's first seven matches straight before getting a rest. After just one match, Rangpur brought back him into the squad and he thereafter played five straight matches. In those five matches, he was not his usual best due to losing the pace, which is his stock weapon.
Since Rangpur was eliminated after the Eliminator game, Nahid got enough rest before the Champions Trophy, Simmons said.
"He( Nahid Rana) has looked slower than normal in the last couple of games. The run-up was less than normal approaching the wicket," Simmons said.
"They (Rana's team Rangpur) got knocked out early so he had a bit of rest. He looked sharp in training yesterday. The pace was coming back. The run-up was as quick as it was in the Caribbean."
Simmons further said Nahid's pace will be key weapon for Bangladesh in the upcoming Champions Trophy.
Bangladesh which are drawn in Group A along with India, Pakistan and New Zealand will leave the country for Champions Trophy on February 14.
They will begin the tournament by taking on India in Dubai on February 20. Thereafter the Tigers will face off New Zealand and hosts Pakistan on February 24 and 27 respectively in Rawalpindi.
Source: BSS
Bd-pratidin English/Lutful Hoque
