Former Bangladesh bowling coach Shaun Tait has credited the country's grassroots coaching network and developing cricket structure for the emergence of a new generation of fast bowlers, singling out Nahid Rana as a world-class talent capable of inspiring future pacers.
Local Coaches Key to Success
Speaking to PakPassion.net, the former Australia fast bowler said Bangladesh's recent success in producing genuine pace bowlers was the result of sustained work by local coaches rather than the influence of overseas specialists alone. "You have to give a lot of credit to the local coaches in Bangladesh," Tait said. "It's not always about the coaches, it's about the Bangladesh system itself. You can't always just give overseas coaches credit."
Nahid Rana: A World-Class Talent
Tait acknowledged the contributions of former Bangladesh pace coaches, including Otis Gibson and Alan Donald, but said local coaches had played the crucial role in identifying and nurturing talent across the country. Using Nahid Rana as an example, Tait said the fast bowler's journey from a village near Rajshahi highlighted the strength of Bangladesh's talent pathway. "Somebody has seen him, somebody has pushed him through and it's not the foreigners all the time," he said.
Tait described Nahid as more than just an express fast bowler, praising his tactical awareness and maturity. "He's not only quick, he's a good bowler. He's a good thinker," Tait said. "He's world class and you can't give that label to everybody." The former speedster added that Nahid's performances, including his stint in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), had established him among the world's leading fast bowlers and predicted he would inspire more young Bangladeshis to pursue pace bowling. "There's going to be some guys following his action, trying to bowl 150kph," he said.
Bangladesh's Rising International Performance
Tait also praised Bangladesh's recent performances on the international stage, saying the team's victories reflected the progress being made despite ongoing administrative changes. "You don't win four Test matches in a row against Pakistan without having that backing and going in the right direction," he said, adding that Bangladesh still had considerable room for further improvement.
Tait's Coaching Philosophy and Future Plans
The 42-year-old also explained that his decision to step down as Bangladesh's bowling coach earlier this year was driven by family considerations rather than any issues with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). "I just needed to spend more time with my family," he said. "I didn't leave because of the BCB. They were pretty good to me." Looking ahead, Tait said he remained interested in coaching but would prefer shorter assignments or roles limited to a single format rather than the demands of a full-time international position. Outlining his coaching philosophy, Tait said he preferred giving fast bowlers the freedom to trust their instincts instead of overloading them with technical instructions and analysis.
