Nahid Rana credits Taskin Ahmed as key mentor in Bangladesh rise
Synopsis
Nahid Rana's breakout year has a quiet architect: Taskin Ahmed. From an ICC Player of the Month award to five Test wickets against Pakistan, Rana's rise is being shaped by a senior pacer he has watched since childhood — and the pair are fast becoming Bangladesh's most potent pace combination in years.
Key Takeaways
Nahid Rana , 23 , has credited Taskin Ahmed as an elder brother and key mentor in his early international career.
Rana won the Player of the Series award in Bangladesh's ODI series win over New Zealand in April 2025 and was named ICC Men's Player of the Month .
He took five wickets against Pakistan in the opening Test, helping Bangladesh claim their first win of the current ICC World Test Championship cycle.
In the second Test, Rana and Taskin shared five wickets on Day 2 , bowling Pakistan out for 232 ; Rana finished with 3/60 and dismissed Babar Azam .
Bangladesh ended Day 2 of the second Test at 110/3 in their second innings, leading by 156 runs overall.
Nahid Rana has credited senior pacer Taskin Ahmed as a pivotal figure behind his rapid ascent in international cricket, describing the experienced bowler as a guiding elder brother who has shaped his early career. The 23-year-old made the remarks as Bangladesh's pace attack continued to impress in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship cycle.
A Breakthrough Year for Rana
Rana's emergence as one of Bangladesh's most exciting fast-bowling prospects has been swift. In April 2025, he earned the Player of the Series award following Bangladesh's ODI series win over New Zealand, a performance that earned him the ICC Men's Player of the Month honour. He carried that momentum into the Test arena, claiming five wickets against Pakistan in the opening Test — a match that secured Bangladesh's first win of the current ICC World Test Championship cycle.
What Rana Said About Taskin
Speaking on his bond with Taskin, Rana offered a candid account of how the senior pacer has mentored him. 'My relationship with him (Taskin) is very good. I have watched him play since I was young, and after seeing him up close, I think of him as an elder brother. He always treats me with care like a younger brother,' Rana said, according to the ICC.
'Whenever I make mistakes, he says, Rana, it will be good for you if you do these things. Since he has already gone through this phase of life and cricket, he guides me a lot. I always see him as an elder brother, and our relationship is like that,' he added.
The Pair Deliver in the Second Test
The partnership between the two pacers was on full display during the second Test against Pakistan. Together, they shared five wickets on Day 2, helping bowl Pakistan out for 232. Bangladesh responded to earn a first-innings lead of 46 runs and closed the day at 110/3 in their second innings, extending their overall advantage to 156 runs.
While Taskin made early inroads with the new ball, Rana delivered a pivotal blow by dismissing former Pakistan captain Babar Azam. He also cleaned up the lower order, finishing with figures of 3/60 from 12.4 overs — underlining his growing centrality to Bangladesh's pace strategy.
What Comes Next
Rana's rise since his international debut in 2024 has been among the more compelling stories in South Asian cricket this year. Bangladesh have historically struggled to sustain a world-class pace attack, making the emergence of a credible new-ball pair in Rana and Taskin a significant development. How long Rana can maintain this trajectory — and whether Taskin's mentorship continues to anchor him — will be closely watched heading into the next phase of the World Test Championship.
Point of View
Or whether Rana remains an outlier in a system that still struggles to produce and retain fast-bowling talent consistently.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Nahid Rana and why is he in the news?
Nahid Rana is a 23-year-old Bangladesh fast bowler who has rapidly emerged as one of the country's top pace prospects. He is in the news for crediting senior pacer Taskin Ahmed as a mentor, and for standout performances including the ICC Men's Player of the Month award and five wickets against Pakistan in a Test match.
What did Nahid Rana say about Taskin Ahmed?
Rana described Taskin as an elder brother who guides him through mistakes and offers advice drawn from his own experience. He said Taskin consistently steers him toward improvement on and off the field.
What has Nahid Rana achieved in international cricket so far?
Since his international debut in 2024, Rana has won the Player of the Series award in Bangladesh's ODI series win over New Zealand in April 2025, been named ICC Men's Player of the Month, and taken five wickets against Pakistan in the first Test of the current World Test Championship cycle.
How did Rana and Taskin perform in the second Test against Pakistan?
The pair shared five wickets on Day 2 of the second Test, helping bowl Pakistan out for 232. Rana dismissed Babar Azam and finished with figures of 3/60 from 12.4 overs, with Bangladesh leading by 156 runs at the close of play.
What is the significance of Bangladesh's recent Test results?
Bangladesh's win in the first Test against Pakistan marked their first victory of the current ICC World Test Championship cycle. The performances of Rana and Taskin have been central to that success, signalling a new era for Bangladesh's pace attack.
