Wahab Riaz praises Nahid Rana while Ramiz Raja laments Bangladesh’s struggles

Nahid Rana's pace has earned praise from Wahab Riaz, while Ramiz Raja has criticised Bangladesh's overall performance in the Champions Trophy.

Bangladesh were set to face Pakistan in the Champions Trophy on 27 February, but persistent rain in Rawalpindi led to the match being abandoned. Both teams, already eliminated from the tournament after losing their first two matches, shared a point each, though Bangladesh finished third in the group due to a superior net run rate, leaving Pakistan in fourth.

Wahab, who played alongside Nahid in the 2023 Bangladesh Premier League for Khulna Tigers, spoke highly of the young seamer's talent. "I think he's a very talented bowler. Watching him bowl with such pace is exciting. I wish him the best and hope he continues to perform well for Bangladesh," he said.

Nahid has quickly emerged as a key figure in Bangladesh's evolving pace attack. His ability to consistently bowl at speeds of 150 km/h has set him apart, making him the first Bangladeshi pacer to achieve such a feat. He has impressed on tours of Pakistan and the West Indies, unsettling opposition batters with his pace and accuracy.

Ramiz Raja, meanwhile, acknowledged Nahid's potential but also cautioned Bangladesh against overusing him. "He needs to bowl less. Bangladesh must manage his workload carefully. He's a promising talent, and I'm happy for Bangladesh," he said. "It's not just his pace; his line and length are excellent. He's still young, and I believe his speed will increase further."

However, Ramiz was far less complimentary about Bangladesh's overall performance in the Champions Trophy, suggesting that their lack of results on the big stage is preventing them from earning the respect of top teams. "Talent is not an issue for Bangladesh. They have good individual performances, but as a team, they fail to deliver. If they want to be taken seriously in international cricket, they need to start winning big tournaments," he remarked.

He particularly criticised Bangladesh's batting, highlighting their inability to rotate the strike and absorb pressure. "The top order failed, but even when the middle order got runs, they struggled with strike rotation. Too many dot balls built unnecessary pressure, and you can't win ODIs playing like that."

While Bangladesh's bowling attack continues to impress, Ramiz believes their batting must improve significantly if they are to compete at the highest level. "The bowling unit is doing well, but the batters need to step up. If they keep playing like this, no one will take them seriously."