Bharath Ramaraj in Dubai
Bangladesh’s pace attack is quite promising. Even some years ago, this statement wouldn’t have made much sense. If anything, Bangladesh were associated with producing a host of left-arm spinners. But things have changed with time, as they now have enough variety in their pace arsenal.
The current Bangladesh fast-bowling quiver comprises Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman, Hasan Mahmud and the rapid Nahid Rana. Suddenly, from nowhere, Bangladesh have the required firepower to pick pace bowlers as per the conditions and different formats.
In fact, Ebadot Hossain’s bursts of old-ball swing were the reason behind Bangladesh winning a Test in New Zealand in 2022, and also a Test series in Pakistan last year.
For a moment, also scroll through the highest wicket-takers of the 2025 Asia Cup, and you will notice that the troika of Mustafizur, Taskin and Tanzim have combined to take 15 wickets between them.
“I think the important thing is the change in pitches and the ball in first-class cricket,” Najmul Hossain Shanto, Bangladesh cricketer, had told this writer during the Champions Trophy. “We play with the Dukes ball, so the fast bowlers want to bowl a lot of overs. There are a lot of coaches and overseas coaches who have helped our pacers.”
Ottis Gibson, the former bowling coach of Bangladesh, was primarily responsible for laying the foundation stone for the country to produce some fine pacers. Subsequent coaches like Allan Donald and Andre Adams have played their part in helping Bangladesh expand their pace-bowling stocks.
So, what can we expect of Bangladesh’s fast bowlers when they take on India in a Super 4 game in the Asia Cup? Shoriful brings the left-arm angle to the table and possesses an incisive inswinger to the right-hander with the new ball. Mustafizur is largely renowned for his off-cutters, while Taskin aims to hit the hard lengths. Tanzim, the back-up seamer, comes across as a wholehearted paceman.
Of course, facing India will be a different kind of challenge for Bangladesh’s pace attack. Abhishek Sharma, in particular, has been in rip-roaring form. But whatever the outcome of the game, a revolution of sorts has taken place in the pace-bowling department in Bangladesh.
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