Rehan Ahmed Archives

Adil Rashid, Rehan Ahmed face Indian visa delay ahead of T20 World Cup

England spinners Adil Rashid and Rehan Ahmed faced delays in securing visas from Indian authorities for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, reportedly due to their Pakistani heritage.

The issue has complicated England’s build-up to the tournament, with both players now unlikely to travel with the rest of the squad this weekend for a six-match white-ball series against Sri Lanka.

The timing of their clearance remains uncertain, leaving head coach Brendon McCullum short of two frontline spin options at a critical stage of preparation.

Rashid and Ahmed are currently overseas, with the senior leg-spinner featuring in South Africa’s SA20, while Ahmed is playing in Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL).

It is understood that once their visas are approved, both players may travel directly from their current locations to either Sri Lanka or India to rejoin the squad.

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Notably, similar bureaucratic hurdles have surfaced in recent years amid strained diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan.

During England’s tour of India two years ago, Shoaib Bashir missed the opening Test after being forced to return to London to complete his visa process, while pacer Saqib Mahmood has also encountered comparable issues in the past.

The ECB is understood to have received assurances from Indian authorities that there are no objections to the applications of Rashid and Ahmed.

However, with uncertainty over timelines persisting, the board has reportedly sought assistance from the UK government in an effort to expedite the process.

Despite the disruption, England remain confident that both spinners will be available in time for the T20 World Cup, which begins for them with a group-stage clash against Nepal in Mumbai on February 8.

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England’s Rehan Ahmed leaves India tour for ‘personal reasons’

England spinner Rehan Ahmed will leave India because of “personal reasons” and will not return for the rest of the series, confirmed by the country’s cricket board on Friday.

“He will not be returning to India and we will not be naming a replacement,” England Cricket said in a statement.

The 19-year-old played the first three matches and took 11 wickets with his leg spin but was replaced by fellow spinner Shoaib Bashir for the fourth Test in Ranchi.

Earlier this month, Rehan Ahmed, also had an issue while returning to India after the team’s 10-day break in Abu Dhabi after the second Test.

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Ahmed had a single-entry visa that expired once he left for a mid-series break to the United Arab Emirates and was initially stopped at the airport before being granted a temporary entry permit while authorities resolved the issue.

England, led by Ben Stokes, is currently trailing the five-match series 2-1 after they won the opener.

India’s Virat Kohli had opted out of the series due to personal reasons and on Tuesday announced the arrival of his second child, a boy, with Bollywood wife Anushka Sharma.

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Ben Stokes says no blame game after ‘anxious’ Rehan Ahmed visa wait

England skipper Ben Stokes said Wednesday that teenage spinner Rehan Ahmed had taken his visa scare in stride ahead of his scheduled appearance in this week’s third Test against India.

The tourists made one change for the match starting in Rajkot on Thursday, with Mark Wood coming in as the second seamer alongside James Anderson.

Spinner Shoaib Bashir made way for Wood after England decided to change their combination of three spinners and one seamer, which they have used so far in the five-match series. The series is currently tied 1-1.

The 19-year-old Rehan Ahmed, a leg-spinner, had an issue on returning to India after the team’s 10-day break in Abu Dhabi.

Ahmed had a single-entry visa that expired once he left for a mid-series break to the United Arab Emirates, and was initially stopped at the airport before being granted a temporary entry permit while authorities resolved the issue.

“It was always one of those situations for an individual where having to wait for that, it’s always an anxious period, but thankfully we’ve got it through this morning,” Ben Stokes said on the eve of his landmark 100th Test.

“The great thing about youth is they just take everything in their stride and I thought he handled a situation — could have affected quite a lot of people in a different way — very, very well for such a young kid.”

Ahmed was the latest cricketer with Pakistani ancestry to face entry troubles in India.

Teammate Shoaib Bashir had to miss the opening Test due to his visa issues, but for Ahmed the case has been reported as a paperwork mistake on the English side.

“When you have a problem like that, rather than try to blame someone, you just have to try to find a solution and get it sorted,” said Stokes.

“We’ve had two of those situations so far on this trip,” he added.

“When it came up at the airport we were straight on to doing what we needed to do to get Rehan in rather than wasting time trying to find out whose fault it was.”

Ahmed, England’s youngest cricketer in all three formats, has taken eight wickets in the series at an average of 36.37.

Wood, 34, makes his return after going wicketless in the opener, which the tourists won on a turning track.

The pitch in Rajkot looks hard with a tinge of green but Stokes remains wary of any predictions on the wicket after England’s last Test at the venue in 2016 ended in a five-day draw.

“Taking a bit of knowledge from the last Test match we played here, albeit a long time ago, it was a pretty true, flat wicket,” said Stokes.

“It looks a bit platey but I think it’s a good wicket. Bringing in an extra seamer this week is the option we’ve gone with because we think it’s going to give us the best chance of winning.”

The Rajkot game will see Stokes play his 100th Test, the 16th England cricketer to achieve the feat, but the star all-rounder played down the landmark.

“Milestones are what they are,” he said. “I’ve always enjoyed playing against India because of the contest, the theatre it brings.”

England XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes (c), Ben Foakes, Rehan Ahmed, Tom Hartley, Mark Wood, James Anderson.

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Rehan Ahmed added to England squad for second Ashes Test

LONDON: Leicestershire leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed has been added to the England Men’s Test squad for the second Men’s Ashes Test against Australia starting at Lord’s on Wednesday.

According to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), the young leg-spinner was added to England squad as a cover for veteran all-rounder Moeen Ali, who struggled with a finger injury on his return.

Following his inclusion, Rehan Ahmed will join the England contingent this weekend for the second Ashes Test, which is scheduled to commence on June 28.

His selection came amidst concerns about Moeen Ali’s fitness, who returned to Test cricket after Jack Leach was forced to withdraw due to a back ailment.

Notably, Moeen Ali sustained a blister on his finger in the Ashes opener at Edgbaston which forced him to bowl significantly less in the second innings.

Meanwhile, Rehan Ahmed got a nod in selection at the back of a remarkable debut in Karachi against Pakistan.

Ahmed was the youngest English male cricketer to make his Test debut and he made it memorable by picking up seven wickets and playing a pivotal role in England’s victory over Pakistan.

He took a five-wicket haul in Pakistan’s second innings and became the youngest debut to achieve this feat.

Additionally, the prospect of Rehan Ahmed playing the second Ashes Test would make him the second-youngest player from either side to play in a Test between the two great rivals and the youngest since 1877.

England’s Ashes squad for the second Test against Australia: Ben Stokes (captain), Rehan Ahmed, Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.

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Wood, Rehan out as England name 15-man squad for New Zealand Tests

LONDON: England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Friday unveiled a strong 15-member squad for the upcoming away Test series against New Zealand, scheduled to roll into action on February 16 2023.

The ECB made significant changes to their squad for Pakistan Tests as pacer Mark Wood and young spinner Rehan Ahmed have been left out of the squad, while three pacers returned to the team for New Zealand Tests.

Broad, who did not tour Pakistan for the historic series, alongside Durham pacer Matthew Potts and Nottinghamshire’s quick Olly Stone, made his return to the English squad.

Furthermore, Essex batter Dan Lawrence will also be returning to England’s squad for the longest format.

Meanwhile, both Wood and Rehan have been left out of the squad in a bid to manage their workload, while English skipper Ben Stokes had already hinted at not putting more pressure on an unfinished article Rehan.

“Durham fast bowler Mark Wood, who was impressive in the recent 3-0 victory over Pakistan, will take a break from all international and franchise cricket in January to fully recover after a busy winter in all formats,” said ECB in a statement.

“He is expected to tour Bangladesh in March, where England will play three ODIS and three IT20s.

“Leg spinner Rehan Ahmed, as part of his management for this winter, will go to the UAE T20 League in January with a view to joining up with the white-ball team in Bangladesh if selected in March.”

It is pertinent to mention that England will tour New Zealand to play two-match Test series from February 16 to 28.

England Test Squad: Ben Stokes (Durham), James Anderson (Lancashire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Harry Brook (Yorkshire), Zak Crawley (Kent), Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire), Ben Foakes (Surrey), Will Jacks (Surrey), Dan Lawrence (Essex), Jack Leach (Somerset), Ollie Pope (Surrey), Matthew Potts (Durham), Ollie Robinson (Sussex), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Olly Stone (Nottinghamshire)

England Men’s Test Tour of New Zealand Schedule:

First Test (Pink Ball): 16-20 February, Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui
Second Test: 24-28 February, Basin Reserve, Wellington

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Rehan Ahmed to debut as England unveil Playing XI for Karachi Test

KARACHI: England and Wales Cricket Board on Friday announced the Playing XI for the upcoming Karachi Test against Pakistan, 18-year-old British-Pakistani Rehan Ahmed to make his debut.

The touring side, who have an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, made two changes to their Playing XI for the final Test as Ahmed will make his debut by replacing Will Jacks, while Ben Foakes would replace seasoned pacer, James Anderson.

“The Three Lions make two changes as 18-year-old Rehan Ahmed makes his debut replacing Will Jacks, while Ben Foakes comes in for Jimmy Anderson,” said ECB in a press release.

Following his debut, Ahmed will become the youngest player to make the Test debut for England and will break Brian Close’s record.

Ben Stokes-led England came from behind to seal a dramatic victory in the Rawalpindi Test to clinch the series with a game to spare.

ENGLAND PLAYING XI

Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Ben Foakes, Rehan Ahmed, Ollie Robinson, Jack Leach, Mark Wood

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British-Pakistani Rehan receives maiden England call-up for Pakistan tour

LONDON: England Cricket Board on Wednesday added an 18-year-old British-Pakistani, Rehan Ahmed, to the Test squad for the historic tour of Pakistan, commencing on December 1.

The leg-spinning all-rounder has received his maiden England call-up and if he gets a chance in playing XI during the three-match series against Pakistan, he will become the youngest cricketer to play a Test for England.

Leicestershire’s Rehan is currently part of the England Lions and playing a warm-up game against the senior side during their training camp in Abu Dhabi.

“The 18-year-old, who has been with the Lions in their red-ball training camp in the UAE and is currently playing in the three-day warm-up fixture against the England Test squad in Abu Dhabi, has impressed coaches with his attitude and genuine potential to be given his first call up to the senior side.” said ECB in a press release

England red-ball coach Brendon McCullum praised the youngster’s approach towards the game besides calling him an unfinished article.

“We know he’s not the finished article and has raw potential, but 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.” said McCullum as quoted by the ECB release.

On Saturday, England will fly to Pakistan after concluding their Test camp at the Abu Dhabi Cricket and Sports Hub.

Ben Stokes-led side will arrive in Pakistan on November 27 and after the Test in Rawalpindi, the team will travel to Multan for the second Test from December 9 to 13.

The final match of the tour will be staged at the National Stadium in Karachi, commencing on December 17.

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