Rehan Ahmed
{{short description|English cricketer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox cricketer
| name = Rehan Ahmed
| image = 3 57 Rehan Ahmed.jpg
| caption = Ahmed in 2023
| fullname = Rehan Ahmed
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2004|8|13|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England
| height =
| batting = Right-handed
| bowling = Right-arm leg break
| role = Bowling all-rounder
| family = Farhan Ahmed (brother)
Raheem Ahmed (brother)
| international = true
| internationalspan = 2022-present
| country = England
| testdebutdate = 17 December
| testdebutyear = 2022
| testdebutagainst = Pakistan
| testcap = 710
| lasttestdate = 24 October
| lasttestyear = 2024
| lasttestagainst = Pakistan
| odidebutdate = 6 March
| odidebutyear = 2023
| odidebutagainst = Bangladesh
| odicap = 270
| odishirt = 53
| lastodidate = 9 December
| lastodiyear = 2023
| lastodiagainst = West Indies
| T20Idebutdate = 12 March
| T20Idebutyear = 2023
| T20Idebutagainst = Bangladesh
| T20Icap = 99
| T20Ishirt = 53
| lastT20Idate = 17 November
| lastT20Iyear = 2024
| lastT20Iagainst = West Indies
| club1 = Leicestershire
| year1 = {{nowrap|2021–present}}
| clubnumber1 = 16
| club2 = Southern Brave
| year2 = 2022–2024
| clubnumber2 = 10
| columns = 4
| column1 = Test
| matches1 = 5
| runs1 = 103
| bat avg1 = 10.30
| 100s/50s1 = 0/0
| top score1 = 28
| deliveries1 = 1,038
| wickets1 = 22
| bowl avg1 = 31.22
| fivefor1 = 1
| tenfor1 = 0
| best bowling1 = 5/48
| catches/stumpings1 = 3/–
| column2 = ODI
| matches2 = 6
| runs2 = 35
| bat avg2 = 8.75
| 100s/50s2 = 0/0
| top score2 = 15
| deliveries2 = 282
| wickets2 = 10
| bowl avg2 = 23.30
| fivefor2 = 0
| tenfor2 = 0
| best bowling2 = 4/54
| catches/stumpings2 = 1/–
| column3 = T20I
| matches3 = 10
| runs3 = 38
| bat avg3 = 9.50
| 100s/50s3 = 0/0
| top score3 = 11
| deliveries3 = 186
| wickets3 = 12
| bowl avg3 = 25.00
| fivefor3 = 0
| tenfor3 = 0
| best bowling3 = 3/39
| catches/stumpings3 = /–
| column4 = FC
| matches4 = 33
| runs4 = 1,656
| bat avg4 = 29.57
| 100s/50s4 = 3/9
| top score4 = 136
| deliveries4 = 3,961
| wickets4 = 62
| bowl avg4 = 42.25
| fivefor4 = 2
| tenfor4 = 0
| best bowling4 = 5/48
| catches/stumpings4 = 10/–
| date = 2 June 2025
| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/1263691.html Cricinfo
}}
Rehan Ahmed (born 13 August 2004) is an English cricketer.{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/1263691.html |title=Rehan Ahmed |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=22 July 2021}} He made his international debut against Pakistan on 17 December 2022, becoming England men's youngest Test debutant at the age of 18 years and 126 days. On the third day of the match he also became the youngest debutant to take five wickets in an innings in men’s Tests. On 12 March 2023, Ahmed became the youngest England male cricketer to play in all three formats of international cricket.{{cite web |title=BAN vs ENG: Rehan Ahmed Becomes The Youngest England Player To Play In All Three Formats |url=https://cricketaddictor.com/cricket-news/ban-vs-eng-rehan-ahmed-becomes-the-youngest-england-player-to-play-in-all-three-formats/ |access-date=12 March 2023 |work=Cricket Addictor|date=12 March 2023 }}
Early life and career
His father Naeem Ahmed, a former cricketer, was born in Pakistan, where he played as a fast-bowling all-rounder, before moving to England.{{Cite web |last=Johnston |first=Rob |title=Rehan Ahmed - The shadow batter in spotlight |url=https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/120734/rehan-ahmed-the-shadow-batter-in-spotlight-cricbuzzcom |access-date=29 September 2022 |website=Cricbuzz |quote=His father, Naeem, played good level cricket in Pakistan as a fast-bowling all-rounder before moving to England and Ahmed initially tried to emulate his Dad by bowling seam.}} Naeem, originally from Mirpur in Azad Kashmir, shifted to England with his wife in 2001, where he began to work as a taxi driver.{{cite web |last=Raj |first=Pratyush |date=7 December 2023 |title=PoK-born cab driver's English dream comes true: A year after son's Test debut, another set to play in U-19 World Cup |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/naeem-ahmed-rehan-ahmed-test-debut-farhan-ahmed-u-19-world-cup-9057305/lite/ |accessdate=23 January 2024 |website=Indian Express}} Rehan can speak Pothwari, the dialect of Punjabi dominant in Mirpur, while he can also understand Urdu.{{Cite web |last=Nawaz |first=Aatif |date=22 October 2024 |title=Urdu, prayer & grandma - Bashir & Ahmed in Pakistan |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/articles/c8696eppj4do |website=BBC News |quote=Bashir and Ahmed can speak Pothwari, the language of Mirpur, the city from where their families originate.}} His brothers Farhan and Raheem are also cricketers.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cricket/2022/11/23/england-add-18-year-old-rehan-ahmed-pakistan-test-squad/ |title=England add 18-year-old Rehan Ahmed to Pakistan Test squad |work=The Telegraph |date=23 November 2022 |access-date=17 December 2022 |last1=MacPherson |first1=Will }}
Ahmed was in the youth set up at Nottinghamshire but left to join Leicestershire in 2017. Aged 13, he was already billed as one of the brightest prospects in English cricket, having been invited to bowl at England and West Indies at Lord's and clean bowled Ben Stokes.{{cite web |title=Teenager billed one of brightest prospects in English cricket has left Nottinghamshire |url=https://www.nottinghampost.com/sport/other-sport/teenager-billed-one-brightest-prospects-759687.amp |access-date=25 July 2021 |work=Nottingham Post|date=10 November 2017 }}
Domestic career
He made his List A debut on 25 July 2021, for Leicestershire in the 2021 Royal London One-Day Cup.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1250167.html |title=Group 1, Leicester, Jul 25 2021, Royal London One-Day Cup |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=25 July 2021}} Prior to his List A debut, Ahmed was named in the County Select XI squad to play against India during their tour of England.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/james-bracey-haseeb-hameed-in-county-select-xi-to-face-india-1269831 |title=James Bracey, Haseeb Hameed in County Select XI to face India |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=25 July 2021}}
Ahmed was part of England's squad for the 2022 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in the West Indies in early 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.ecb.co.uk/news/2424846/young-lions-announce-england-u19-world-cup-squad |title=Young Lions announce England U19 World Cup squad |work=England and Wales Cricket Board |access-date=22 December 2021}} He played in four of his team's six matches, taking 12 wickets, as England finished as runners-up to India.{{cite web|url=https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/averages/batting_bowling_by_team.html?id=14379;team=1022;type=tournament |title=Records / ICC Under-19 World Cup, 2021/22 - England Under-19s / batting and bowling averages |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=19 December 2022}}
In April 2022, he was bought by the Southern Brave for the 2022 season of The Hundred.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/60477088 |title=The Hundred 2022: latest squads as Draft picks revealed |work=BBC Sport |access-date=5 April 2022}} Later the same month, he signed a contract extension to the end of 2026 with Leicestershire.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/rehan-ahmed-england-under-19-legspinner-signs-contract-extension-at-leicestershire-1312336 |title=Rehan Ahmed, England Under-19 legspinner, signs contract extension at Leicestershire |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=25 April 2022}}
Ahmed made his first-class debut on 19 May 2022, for Leicestershire in the 2022 County Championship,{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1297721.html |title=25th Match, Worcester, May 19 - 22, 2022, County Championship Division Two |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=19 May 2022}}
and his Twenty20 debut for the same team a week later.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1297799.html |title=North Group (D/N), Leicester, May 26, 2022, Vitality Blast |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=26 May 2022}}
International career
In November 2022, he was added to the England squad for the away Test series against Pakistan.{{cite web| url=https://www.ecb.co.uk/england/men/news/2915535/rehan-ahmed-added-to-england-mens-test-squad| title=Rehan Ahmed added to England Men's Test Squad| publisher=England and Wales Cricket Board| date=23 November 2022| accessdate=23 November 2022}} He made his Test debut in the third Test of the series, on 17 December 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1330873.html |title=3rd Test, Karachi, December 17–21, 2022, England tour of Pakistan |work= ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=17 December 2022}} He became the youngest male cricketer for England to make his debut in Tests, achieving the milestone at the age of 18 years and 126 days.{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/2985617 |title=Uncapped Rehan Ahmed named in England XI for Karachi Test |work= International Cricket Council |access-date=17 December 2022}} During Pakistan's second innings, Ahmed took his first five–wicket haul in Tests,{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/12771316/five-star-rehan-ahmed-spinner-claims-five-for-on-debut |title=Five star Rehan Ahmed! Spinner claims five-for on debut! |work=Sky Sports |access-date=19 December 2022}} and became the youngest debutant to achieve a five-wicket haul in men’s Tests.{{cite web|url=https://sportstar.thehindu.com/cricket/england-rehan-ahmed-youngest-test-debutant-five-wickets-pat-cummins-record-eng-vs-pak-karachi-test/article66281340.ece |title=ENG vs PAK: England's Rehan Ahmed becomes youngest debutant to achieve a five-wicket haul in men's Tests |work= Sportstar |date=19 December 2022 |access-date=19 December 2022}}
In December 2022, he was shortlisted for that year's BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year Award.{{cite news |title=Young Sports Personality 2022: Sky Brown, Jessica Gadirova & Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix on shortlist |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/sports-personality/63779048 |access-date=23 December 2022}}
In February 2023, he was named in England's One Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 International (T20I) squad for the series against Bangladesh.{{cite web|url=https://www.ecb.co.uk/england/men/news/3043874/england-name-squad-for-mens-odi-and-t20-tour-of-bangladesh |title=England Men name squad for Men's ODI and T20 tour of Bangladesh |work=England and Wales Cricket Board |access-date=2 February 2023}} He made his ODI debut in the third ODI of the series, on 6 March 2023.{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1351399.html |title=3rd ODI (D/N), Chattogram, March 06, 2023, England tour of Bangladesh |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=6 March 2023}} He became the youngest male cricketer for England to make his debut in ODIs, achieving the milestone at the age 18 years and 205 days.{{cite news |title=BAN vs ENG: England emerging star Rehan Ahmed scripts unique record on debut |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/england-emerging-star-rehan-ahmed-scripts-unique-record-on-debut-8481809/ |work=The Indian Express |date=6 March 2023 |language=en}} He made his T20I debut in the second T20I of the series, on 12 March 2023.{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1351401.html |title=2nd T20I (D/N), Mirpur, March 12, 2023, England tour of Bangladesh |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=12 March 2023}}
He became the youngest male cricketer for England to make his debut in T20Is, achieving the milestone at the age 18 years and 211 days.{{cite web |title=Bangladesh field first in search of series win; Rehan Ahmed youngest England player to make debut |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/sports/cricket/bangladesh-field-first-search-series-win-rehan-ahmed-youngest-england-player-make |access-date=12 March 2023 |work=The Business Standard|date=12 March 2023 }}
In 2024 he played his first Test series against India taking 11 wickets and scoring 76 runs in 3 Test matches.{{cite web |title=Anthony de Mello Trophy, 2023/24 Records - England averages |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/records/series/averages-batting-bowling-by-team/anthony-de-mello-trophy-2023-24-15634?team=1 |website=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=9 April 2024}}
Bowling style
Ahmed plays principally as a right-arm bowler of leg spin, including googlies, and his accuracy has been praised.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricketers/rehan-ahmed-1263691|title=Rehan Ahmed Profile - Cricket Player England | Stats, Records, Video|website=ESPNcricinfo}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/cricket/news/12123/13027342/england-player-ratings-rehan-ahmed-and-gus-atkinson-star-despite-series-defeat-to-west-indies|title=England player ratings: Rehan Ahmed and Gus Atkinson star despite series defeat to West Indies|website=Sky Sports}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cricket/2023/12/08/rehan-ahmed-accurate-leg-spin-england-west-indies/|title=Teenage English leg-spinners are not supposed to be as good as Rehan Ahmed|first=Tim|last=Wigmore|newspaper=The Telegraph |date=8 December 2023|via=www.telegraph.co.uk}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{cricinfo|id=1263691}}
{{Leicestershire County Cricket Club squad}}
{{Trent Rockets squad}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ahmed, Rehan}}
Category:English people of Pakistani descent
Category:Sportspeople of Pakistani descent
Category:British Asian cricketers
Category:Cricketers from Nottingham
Category:Leicestershire cricketers
Category:Southern Brave cricketers
Category:England Twenty20 International cricketers
Category:England One Day International cricketers
Category:England Test cricketers
Category:Cricketers who have taken five wickets on Test debut