Leg spinner Rehan Ahmed earns maiden England Test call-up

England are set to travel to Pakistan as they lock horns with the Men in Green for a three-match Test series scheduled to commence on December 1. The Three Lions had made one surprise addition in Liam Livingstone previously and have announced yet another one in the form of Rehan Ahmed.

18-year-old Rehan, a leg-spinning all-rounder from Leicestershire has earned an official call-up prior to the tour to Pakistan for the Test series. The young uncapped player just has three first-class appearances to his name and was slated to travel with the squad as a net bowler initially.

England’s red-ball head coach, Brendon McCullum stated that he held talks with skipper Ben Stokes and the other members of the team management before including Rehan in the squad.

“Ben (Stokes), myself, and the rest of the coaches like how he approaches his game. The experience of being part of the squad in Pakistan will be hugely beneficial for him, and he will add to the make-up of our squad. We know he’s not the finished article and has raw potential,” said the coach.

Assuming England add him to the playing XI against Pakistan during the series, Rehan would become England men’s youngest-ever debutant to feature for the side. Born on August 13, 2004, Rehan would surpass Brian Close (18 years and 149 days).  Close was picked for a Test against New Zealand in 1949.

Rehan was the second-highest wicket-taker in the ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup in 2022 for the Three Lions, racking 12 wickets in just four matches at an average of 12.58.

England Test squad for Pakistan tour: Ben Stokes (c), James Anderson, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ben Foakes, Will Jacks, Keaton Jennings, Jack Leach, Liam Livingstone, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Mark Wood, Rehan Ahmed