Ian Bishop disappointed at not having Nahid Rana

Bangladesh pacer Nahid Rana has been ruled out of the upcoming Test series against Australia due to injury, even before the squad was announced. His absence has disappointed former West Indies pacer and popular cricket analyst Ian Bishop, who said he was looking forward to watching Rana's fiery bowling on Australia's pace-friendly wickets.

In a post on social media platform X, Bishop wrote that he felt bad for Nahid Rana and that, like many other cricket fans, he had been waiting to see Rana bowl in Australian conditions. The Bangladesh pacer has already drawn praise from the likes of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, among other former cricketing greats, for his 140+ km/h pace and effective bouncer.

Rana has taken 38 wickets in 12 Tests, including two five-wicket hauls in an innings. In ODIs, he has claimed three five-wicket hauls in 15 matches, including a record-breaking 6/21 against Zimbabwe in Harare, the best bowling figures in Bangladesh's ODI history. Overall, he has 78 wickets in 32 international matches.

BCB chief selector Habibul Bashar Sumon also sees Rana's absence as a big blow, describing him as a special bowler whose absence will be felt. The first Test of the Bangladesh-Australia series begins on August 13 in Darwin, with the second and final Test starting on August 22 in Mackay.