The Bangladesh national cricket team is set to tour Pakistan for a three-match T20I series. However, rising pace sensation Nahid Rana will not be part of the squad. The news was confirmed by BCB Director and Chairman of Cricket Operations, Nazmul Abedeen Fahim. Additionally, fielding coach James Pamment and trainer Nick Lee will also not be traveling to Pakistan.
Fahim explained that Nahid’s decision stemmed from his prior experience in Pakistan during the Pakistan Super League (PSL). “What Nahid Rana and Rishad Hossain experienced in the PSL could have been traumatizing. If someone is mentally affected by such incidents, we can’t blame them. That’s likely why he opted out,” Fahim told the media upon returning from Dubai on Wednesday afternoon.
Nahid Rana had traveled to Pakistan earlier to join Peshawar Zalmi in the PSL. Although he didn’t get a chance to play, the sudden suspension of the league saw both Rana and fellow Bangladeshi cricketer Rishad Hossain return home on a special flight. The duo later joined the national team for the T20I series against the UAE, where Nahid made his international T20 debut in the second match.
Following the UAE series, the Bangladesh team will fly from Dubai to Lahore on May 25, with the T20I series against Pakistan scheduled to begin on May 28.
The BCB has confirmed that no replacement will be named for Nahid Rana. However, the team will be boosted by the return of Mustafizur Rahman, who missed the start of the UAE series due to IPL commitments but will be available for the Pakistan tour.
UA / TDS
