Pakistani all-rounder Saad Masood revealed the toughest bowler he ever faced across domestic and international cricket, or even the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Bangladeshi pacer Nahid Rana was the young emerging talent who turned out to be a nightmare to Masood’s dream of becoming a reliable all-rounder.
In an exclusive interview, the 21-year-old opened up on his heartbreaking international debut at Dhaka, where Pakistan faced an 11-run loss to Bangladesh in the series decider of the 3-match ODI series.
Despite facing Nahid for a few deliveries in a crucial match, his lethal pace gave one of the most challenging moments to Pakistan’s lower-order batter.
‘Different from Other bowlers’: Saad Masood’s Answer
During the media interaction, Saad Masood was asked who the toughest bowler he had ever faced was in his career so far. In response to the interviewer’s question, the spin bowling all-rounder named Nahid Rana explained the intensity of his pace bowling attack:
“See! It was a totally different experience while facing Nahid Rana. You don’t typically see such a type of bowling skills where his raw pace and bounce elevated the intensity levels. This is one main reason why he is different compared to other bowlers,” Masood said.
Saad Masood vs Nahid Rana: BAN vs PAK 3rd ODI 2026
During the 3rd ODI match between Bangladesh and Pakistan, Saad Masood faced only five deliveries against Nahid Rana. Although the Pakistani batter managed to score 6 runs off 5 balls, he wasn’t able to score runs in a free-flow manner against the young Bangladeshi bowler.
Here is how Masood had a tough time facing Nahid’s raw pace and bounce:
- 1st Ball (27.6 overs): 1 Run
- 2nd Ball (29.3 overs): No-Run
- 3rd Ball (29.4 overs): 4 Runs
- 4th Ball (29.5 overs): No-Run
- 5th Ball (29.6 overs): 1 Run
Saad Masood’s Only ODI Match: Pakistan’s Series Decider vs Bangladesh
On March 15, 2026 (Sunday), Saad Masood marked his ODI debut, which was indeed the only match he played for Pakistan to date. His spin bowling tactics was ineffective against Bangladesh and ended up being wicketless with the subpar bowling figures of 55/0 in 8 overs.
However, his batting prowess bagged the spotlight in a high-pressure run chase. It was indeed a must-win game for Pakistan in series-decider clash.
Saad arrived to bat when the men-in-green lost half of their batting line-up at 82/5 in 17.4 overs. He built a solid 79-run partnership for the 6th wicket with Salman Agha, but was dismissed after scoring 38 runs off 44 balls (including 5 fours).
Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman’s wide slog delivery directly struck the stumps. Masood lost his shape and balance while attempting to strike the ball across the line, but failed to make the contact with the bat.
Although Agha’s 106-run knock kept Pakistan active in the run chase, his dismissal caused Pakistan facing a 11-run loss and losing the 3-match ODI series by 2-1.
Saad Masood still regrets that he could have stayed till the end to safely steer his team in accomplishing the required target.
Notably, Nahid Rana’s spell of 2/62 in 10 overs tamed Pakistan’s batting line-up’s aggression under pressure.
Saad Masood Regrets Pakistan’s Series Loss on His Debut
Even after Pakistan losing the 3-match ODI series to Bangladesh, Saan Masood’s debut match remains special. His 38-run knock under pressure kept Pakistan’s hopes alive during the middle overs of accomplishing the 291-run target. Here is what Masood said:
“Yeah! There is disappointment after the match, but it was a dream come true moment for me to get my Pakistan debut cap. My family members were proud, and it was a big moment in my cricket career as I had dreamt of representing Pakistan ever since I started playing cricket.
As it was a big game, there is a regret of not performing to my best potential. Even though I tried, I ended up making mistakes, which cost us a series loss. However, the 79-run partnership with Agha bhai was good,” the Pakistani cricketer added.
Highlights From Nahid Rana’s International Cricket Career Stats
Here are the impressive bowling stats of Bangladeshi pacer Nahid Rana since his international cricket debut in 2024:
| Format | Wickets, Innings, and Matches | Average | Economy | Best Bowling Figures in an Inning |
| Tests | 27 Wickets in 17 Innings and 10 Matches | 41.66 | 4.61 | 5/61 |
| ODIs | 19 Wickets in 10 Innings and 10 Matches | 24.57 | 5.13 | 5/24 |
| T20Is | 2 Wickets in 1 Innings and 1 Match | 25.00 | 12.50 | 2/50 |
Also Read: Rashid Khan Unwavering Loyalty to Afghanistan: Citizenship Offer Turned Down!
Conclusive Facts: Saad Masood’s Current Performance in PSL 2026
After being benched for four consecutive games, Saad Masood delivered some noteworthy performances in his next four matches. He scored 95 runs in 3 innings and claimed 2 wickets in 4 innings.
Masood got an opportunity to play his first game of PSL 2026 for Rawalpindiz, where he scored a quickfire 31-run knock against Quetta Gladiators. However, the young batter proved his aggressive batting style with his 26-ball 54-run knock against Lahore Qalandars.
| Opponent Team | Runs Scored (Balls Faced) | 4s and 6s | Bowling Figures |
| Quetta Gladiators | 31 Runs (19 Balls) | 1 Four and 3 Sixes | 0/24 in 4 overs |
| Hyderabad Kingsmen | 10 Runs (5 Balls) | 2 Fours | 1/35 in 4 overs |
| Lahore Qalandars | 54 Runs (26 Balls) | 9 Fours and 1 Six | 0/21 in 2 overs |
| Multan Sultans | Did Not Bat | – | 1/24 in 4 overs |
As Rawalpindiz are eliminated from the PSL 2026 playoff race, they still have two more games left against Islamabad United and Hyderabad Kingsmen. This gives Masood a valuable opportunity to conclude the season on a memorable note by delivering some impactful performances for his team.
