Peshawar Zalmi’s hopes of seeing Nahid Rana back in action during PSL 11 appear to be fading, with sources revealing that the Bangladeshi pace sensation has made no move to secure a fresh No Objection Certificate from the Bangladesh Cricket Board.
Geo Super broke the story Wednesday, confirming that Rana — who lit up the early stages of the tournament with his raw pace — has deliberately held back from filing any NOC application to extend his stay with Zalmi. The young fast bowler had previously been cleared to participate in the league through April 13, but once his national board recalled its overseas-based players for international commitments, Rana packed his bags and headed home with the rest of the Bangladesh contingent.
While Rana did earn a place in Bangladesh’s ODI squad to face New Zealand, his name was absent from the lineup for the opening two T20 Internationals. More tellingly, insiders suggest the BCB has quietly decided to keep him fresh and protected ahead of a high-stakes two-Test series against Pakistan — a series that carries significant ICC World Test Championship 2025–27 points.
The first Test is scheduled to get underway at Dhaka’s Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium from May 8 to 12, with the action then shifting to Sylhet International Cricket Stadium for the second match, running from May 16 to 20.
Rana’s numbers for Zalmi were hard to ignore — seven wickets across four appearances at a tidy economy rate of 5.42 — making his absence a genuine blow for the Peshawar outfit. But with a Test series against a formidable Pakistan side looming, the BCB’s caution around their prized pacer makes complete sense from a long-term standpoint.
Sources close to the situation noted that had Rana formally approached the board for clearance, the BCB would have assessed the request on its merits. However, no such approach was made.
Contrast that with the situation surrounding his compatriot Mustafizur Rahman, who has navigated his way back into PSL action through a two-stage NOC arrangement. The left-arm seamer, who turns out for Lahore Qalandars, received initial clearance up to April 12. Following the conclusion of Bangladesh’s ODI commitments against New Zealand, a second NOC window opened for him from April 24, keeping him available to the Qalandars until May 3
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