Manjural Islam Rana

If adaptiveness comes in the form of Rana's talent, then his persistence must have come in the form of it's flavor.

Date of Birth: 4 May 1984, Khulna  Test Debut: Against Zimbabwe at Harare in 2003/04  ODI Debut: Against England at Chittagong in 2003/04  Bats: Left Hand Bat  Bowls: Slow Left Arm Orthodox

If adaptiveness comes in the form of Rana's talent, then his persistence must have come in the form of it's flavor.

Time and again he has proven to be the most flexible and reliable weapon in team's armoury. Being the only Bangladeshi to take a wicket in the first international over, Rana is the long missing complete gamemaker of the squad.

He is remarkably consistent with the bat, ball and luck alike. He has the tremendous capability to defy any attack whether it comes from a new ball or an old one, yet he sends down shivers to even the most composed batsmen with his deadly slow left arm that spins away from the right handers.

It will be pleasing to see him developing into a natural leader down the road.

Manjural Islam Rana caught the eye of the press while representing the BCB Development XI against the visiting English team during a one-day match. He took two economical wickets, scored a pugnacious 47 and was quickly selected for his ODI debut against England.

He bowled an economical 8 overs for 33 runs and took the wicket of Michael Vaughan with his third ball in international cricket.

He was subsequently picked for the tour to Zimbabwe and showclassed his steady yet agressive batting abilities.

The Bangladesh team management, in their ever widening search for a working opening pair in ODIs, saw in him a possible candidate and had him open with Hannan Sarker in the fifth ODI against Zimbabwe. He promptly justified this decision with a 98-ball 63, giving Bangladesh one of their best opening stands (105).