Last Updated on 4 minutes ago by Charbel Coorey

Nahid Rana is delivering for Bangladesh, and South Africa legend (and former Tigers bowling coach) Allan Donald is loving every moment of it.

In his latest exploits, Rana took 5/40 in the second innings of the first Test against Pakistan. The fast bowler conceded over 100 runs in the first innings, but sent a reminder of his wicket-taking ability second time around.

In an exclusive interview with Tawhid Qureshi for CricBlog, Donald spoke of how he was immediately impressed by Rana during his time as bowling coach. He also touched on what makes Rana so threatening to opposition lineups, and called on Bangladesh to focus on his strengths.

Former Bangladesh bowling coach Allan Donald shares his thoughts on Nahid Rana

Here is the audio and below is the full transcript of CricBlog’s interview with Allan Donald on Nahid Rana and Bangladesh’s bowling stocks.

Was immediately excited by Nahid Rana during a training camp in Chattogram…

“Nahid Rana came to our nets at Chattogram. He came to our nets during a three-day camp that we had.

“I was immediately excited by this young man, I really was. I just thought his natural pace, effortless pace, his ability to get bounce because he’s quite tall. And when when you see bowlers getting pace off the surface, it’s a very exciting thing to watch when they can generate pace off the actual pitch and that is a kind of pace that you cannot teach, it comes naturally.

“I was just very blown away by firstly his length, he’s a tall man, he’s got very good rhythm, very good natural rhythm and he came to our nets also in Dhaka once or twice. He joined again because I wanted to see more of him and look at him now.

“Easy kid to talk to. He was in preparation also for the national team in Chattogram when Russell [Domingo] was still there. He bowled in the nets in the centre wicket and he was very, very impressive.

“I think Russell was very close in pulling him in and to see what happens but you know we had a decent attack again with Taskin, Ebadot, Shoriful were the guys that were in really good form at that stage. But it’s awesome to see him do so well.”

Nahid Rana will win more matches than he goes for runs…

“His potential is his real pace. And it’s now a very careful balance on how Bangladesh cricket handles this young man. And he’s not a sort of guy that you would have to tell to, you know, you need to sort your lines and lengths out. You saw him bowl in the first innings against Pakistan and he went for 100 runs.

“And that’s OK. You’ve got to accept that potentially he’s going to go for a few runs and he’s going to leak on one occasion, but he’s going to win you more matches than he’s going to go for runs. So I wouldn’t care about that. I think the message to him must be very clear… it’s just go on, go out there, take the game on. You’re our front man.

“You’re blessed with that extra pace and go take it on. And so he’ll still work out as he goes on. It’s a bit like myself and Brett Lee in that sense when I was lucky enough to be under coaches that gave me a license to be quick. And the message must be clear to him. Just go be quick.

“The narrowing down of lines and lengths will come as we saw that with Brett Lee. I was exactly the same exactly the same so over time it will come, but at the moment his unpredictability is ‘yes he’s going to leak a few runs he’s going to be wide, he’s going to get cut. he’s going to get pulled but… if he’s going to make mistakes, he must make them at 148K, 150. And batters don’t like that. They don’t like the unpredictability of someone who’s a little bit loose.

“But if he’s got pace and he’s got the ability to be on in the second innings, that has real potential. And I think that would be my message to him for sure.”

Absolutely not surprised that Nahid Rana is doing so well..

“I’m absolutely not surprised. When I stood at those nets a while ago, and I saw him bowl, I thought, wow. You know, in my gut, I would say, geez, I would throw this kid in. I would really just chuck him in this Test match coming up now. No one knows him. No one’s seen him.

“So no, I’m not surprised. And he keeps doing it in all formats. So it’s just magnificent to see him and the comfort of someone in your team that is as high-paced as that with Taskin, Ebadot now back in the fold and it’s great to see Ebadot back now.

“I feel for him [Ebadot], he’s had a torrid time, he’s had a really bad, bad time of it, but to see him back in the side and contributing, you know, he might not be high on the wickets stage – the wickets column – but he’s back in, you know, it’s great to see.

“I just think that what we spoke about so many months ago, or a couple of years ago now is this confidence of the “pack” mentality. And it’s not going to be your regular’s day every time. Taskin is not going to get three, four, five every time. And Shoriful and everyone else, the spinners do what they do.

“But, someone’s going to have their day out. And that is exactly what happened to the young man, Nahid Rana [in the first Test against Pakistan]. He had a day out. He’s a match winner. He is a match winner. That’s it. Simple as that.

“But as long as the group doesn’t lose that hunting as a pack all the time, doing the job for each other every single over, then I feel, you know, that’s one, hopefully one legacy that we’ve left behind with that young group.

How Bangladesh should look to manage Nahid Rana going forward…

“I think the powers that be and the medical staff that is there would know how to handle him to prevent injury. There’s a big difference between out-and-out fitness and bowling fitness. And bowling fitness is when you know you can push your body to the limits you’ve never been before. And that comes from training as well. I’m sure that they were in the catapult system as well.

“And I’m sure that the guys would know how to manage him, willing to maybe rest him, because he plays all formats, which is great to see. But I just think a young man like that should know and should be allowed to explore what his body can do.

“So there comes a time in every session when you know, ‘listen, I’ve had enough.’ I don’t need to overbowl. I need to maybe give myself some targets and net practices to achieve. And once you have built that base of really knowing that, you know, I can withstand eight overs here, I can withstand five overs there. But the last thing I want to see is Bangladesh cricket really wrapping him in cotton wool and he’s a match winner. He needs to play. I’m not saying he needs to play all the time, but, you know, sensible thinking would be required.

“But yeah, I think he’s an absolute gem.”