Rana was at his fiery best, returning figures of 2 for 22 from four overs, including a maiden, as his sheer pace left batters rattled. His spell played a pivotal role in restricting Kingsmen to a modest total, setting up Zalmi’s title-winning chase.
The Bangladesh speedster’s impact was evident throughout the innings, with his deliveries consistently troubling the opposition. His performance drew admiration from teammates and management alike, with Zalmi owner Javed Afridi embracing him on the field in celebration after the match.
Rana’s efforts were recognized with the ‘Super Power of the Match’ award following the final.
Player of the Match Aaron Hardie was full of praise for the young pacer, highlighting both his pace and immediate impact after arriving just days earlier.
“He got off the plane three days ago and bowled with great pace today. When he was hitting 151 kph in Karachi, it was a frightening experience for the batters,” Hardie said.
Looking ahead to the upcoming Test series between Bangladesh and Pakistan, Hardie added with a smile, “I know he has a Test match in a week. I also know that Babar Azam probably wouldn’t want to face him. There’s a friendly rivalry there.”
Speaking after the triumph, Rana expressed his satisfaction at contributing on the big stage.
“I really enjoyed it. I came last year but didn’t get to play. This year I came back and truly enjoyed it. I just wanted to execute my plans and deliver a performance that would have a big impact for the team. I’m happy I was able to do that,” he said.
Zalmi’s victory marks a memorable return to the top, with Nahid Rana’s explosive pace proving to be one of the defining factors in their championship run.
