Najmul Hossain Shanto Says Nahid Rana and Rishad Should Play in PSL

Three Bangladeshi cricketers have been drafted into the 2025 Pakistan Super League (PSL) — Nahid Rana has been picked by Peshawar Zalmi, Liton Das by Karachi Kings, and Rishad Hossain by Lahore Qalandars. However, there is concern that the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) may not grant them the no-objection certificate due to national team commitments and health concerns, which could result in a missed opportunity for these players. Bangladesh's captain, Najmul Hossain Shanto, expressed his hope that Nahid and Rishad will be allowed to play in the PSL.

For pacer Nahid Rana, this is his first opportunity to play in a foreign franchise league. However, there is uncertainty over whether he will be able to play for Peshawar Zalmi in the PSL due to a conflicting Test series against Zimbabwe in Bangladesh during the same period. In response to this, Shanto shared some positive news about Rana’s fitness and workload management:

"He (Nahid) is a great asset for our cricket. We are seeing the kind of talk happening around him in world cricket. The best thing is that the national team's physiotherapists and the staff working with Abahani are managing his workload very well. He is playing matches in this way, and by God's grace, he has been fit and maintained his energy."

Shanto also emphasized the importance of Bangladeshi cricketers participating in franchise leagues, as he discussed with the media during a DPL practice session in Mirpur:

"I think it is important to play in such tournaments. Franchise cricket is definitely something we should play. But this entirely depends on the cricket board, coaches, and the captain."

He continued, "I believe if our players start playing in foreign franchise leagues, it will help them gain experience and learn how to take responsibility. Sharing a dressing room with foreign players and the overall experience will be valuable. I hope our cricketers will have the opportunity to play in such tournaments moving forward."

The involvement of Bangladeshi cricketers in international franchise leagues could be a key step in their development and exposure on the global stage.