Early career

Rana made his first-class debut on 22 November 2000, playing for Khulna Division against Barisal Division. His first wicket was that of Towhid Hossain, bowled, but he did not bat in the match. In his next first-class match, against Dhaka Metropolis for Khulna, Rana batted for the first time; he scored 8 and 18 not out. In the match, 19 other players made their first-class debut as this was the first match for both Khulna and Dhaka in Bangladesh's new National Cricket League. Rana made his one-day debut the same month; on 25 November 2000, he played for Khulna against Barisal Division. In the match he scored 22 runs and took 3 wickets for 20 runs. Once again, Rana was one of 20 people to debut in the match in the new Ispahani Mirzapore Tea One-Day League. In his first season with Khulna, Rana played 10 first-class matches, scoring 299 runs at 24.91 and taking 35 wickets at 20.14, and 10 one-day matches, scoring 70 runs at 11.66 and taking 10 wickets at 26.00.

In the 2001/02 season, Rana played just two first-class and two one-day matches, with little success compared to the previous year. He experienced more success in 2002/03, playing in six first-class matches – in which he scored 390 runs at 48.75, including four half-centuries, and took 27 wickets at 20.00 – and six one-day matches, scoring 28 runs at 5.60 and taking 18 wickets at 9.55. During the 2003 English cricket season, Rana represented the Old Mid-Whitgiftians in the Surrey Championship. Rana was chosen to be part of the Bangladesh A squad that toured Pakistan in 2003/04.

International breakthrough

Between 30 January 2003 and 8 February 2005, Rana played no domestic cricket. Rana made his ODI debut against England at Chittagong on 7 November 2003 in the first match of a three-match ODI series. Filling in for fellow-spinner Mohammad Rafique, he dismissed Michael Vaughan with just his third ball of the match and became the first Bangladeshi to take a wicket in his first international over. Rana played in all three matches as Bangladesh lost the series 3–0; the wicket in his first over of international cricket was his only one of the series and he scored 46 runs at an average of 23.00.

In December 2003, Rana was part of the Bangladesh A squad that toured in Pakistan and played in the Pakistan Cricket Board Patron's Cup and the PCB Patron's Trophy. Rana made Test debut on 19 February 2004, playing against Zimbabwe as part of Bangladesh's tour of the country. He bowled 20.2 overs in the match, taking 2 wickets for 66 runs. His first Test wicket was that of Sean Ervine, caught by Tapash Baisya. Rana batted twice in the match, making scores of 35 not out and 32. Bangladesh lost the