Bangladesh's Pace Revolution: Story Of Planning, Commitment At Grassroots Level

For the last one month, Bangladesh is on a mission to reverse a long-standing trend of left-arm spinners leading their bowling. Two beanpole quicks are at the forefront of that changing of baton - Hasan Mahmud and Nahid Rana. They arrived on these shores after a sensational effort against Pakistan, but India could be a daunting destination even for the more experienced ones. But on the opening day of the first Test against India here on Thursday, Mahmud (4/58) and Rana (1/80) justified the hype around them, rather contrastingly.

Mahmud owns lively pace but banks more on an exemplary seam position and other variations to make an impact, whereas Rana is the battering ram, looking to unsettle the batters with raw pace.

It was evident in their respective approach at Chepauk.

But Mahmud was more successful this day, taking four wickets - Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant - a list that still remains a dream even for the more reputed names.

Rana hustled Indians occasionally. He hurried Yashasvi Jaiswal with a 148 kmph corker, forcing the opener to edge it to the cordon.

But this silent revolution in Bangladesh cricket is more carefully planned than organic.

"Look at Nahid and Mahmud, we were trying to find some genuine fast bowlers for sometime now. I am not belittling spinners, who have done great work for our country.

"But if you need to be a successful cricketing nation across the world, you need world-class fast bowlers, like when we go to England or Australia," Alamgir Kabir, a former Bangladesh pacer who is a mentor to both Mahmud and Rana, told PTI.

Kabir underlined the role of a robust grassroot level system in Bangladesh in this new rush of quality pacers.

"I will not call it perfect or anything,