<p>Delhi Capitals have finally announced their replacement for Ben Duckett as the wait for the vacant spot came to an end on Thursday (April 23). Capitals on Thursday announced England’s Rehan Ahmed as the replacement for Duckett who pulled out of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) days before the start of the tournament. It is reported that, Ahmed will join the squad in a deal worth INR 75 lakh and could be available for the Saturday clash against Punjab Kings.</p><h2><strong>Rehan joins Delhi Capitals</strong></h2><p>The 21-year-old Rehan, who burst onto the scene for his wrist-spin, has seen his batting go up several notches, featuring at the top of the order for Leicestershire as they clinched Division Two of the 2025 County Championship to earn a promotion to Division One. Rehan tallied 760 runs at an average of 50.66, hitting five centuries and taking 23 wickets at 19 apiece in the said season.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>ALSO READ | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-cameron-green-to-liam-livingstone-5-most-expensive-players-in-ipl-2026-auctions-matheesha-pathirana-kartik-sharma-prashant-veer-1774031148132"><strong>From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>In March, England batter Duckett withdrew from his IPL 2026 contract with DC to ensure that he is "in the best possible place physically and mentally" ahead of England's home summer schedule. Duckett, who has never played in the IPL, was bought for Rs 2 crore at the IPL 2026 auction in December last year.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The England batter decided to withdraw from the tournament and instead started preparations for England's home summer, which includes three Tests against New Zealand in June and then three Tests against Pakistan in August-September. England are also going to host India for five T20Is and three ODIs in July.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>ALSO READ | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-rohit-sharma-to-sanju-samson-5-highest-individual-score-in-a-lost-chase-in-ipl-yusuf-pathan-kl-rahul-shaun-marsh-ipl-2026-1774084136030"><strong>From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>In a post on his Instagram story, Ben Duckett said he made the difficult decision to withdraw from the IPL 2026 to focus on being physically and mentally ready to give his best for England's home summer fixtures.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>"I have made the extremely difficult decision to withdraw from the IPL. I have given this a lot of thought and it has not been an easy choice. Representing England is something I have dreamed of since I was a child, and I want to give everything I can to English cricket. To do that, I need to ensure I am in the best possible place physically and mentally ahead of the summer," he said.</p>

Delhi Capitals on Thursday announced England’s Rehan Ahmed as the replacement for Duckett who pulled out of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) days before the start of the tournament.

Delhi Capitals have finally announced their replacement for Ben Duckett as the wait for the vacant spot came to an end on Thursday (April 23). Capitals on Thursday announced England’s Rehan Ahmed as the replacement for Duckett who pulled out of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) days before the start of the tournament. It is reported that, Ahmed will join the squad in a deal worth INR 75 lakh and could be available for the Saturday clash against Punjab Kings. Rehan joins Delhi Capitals The 21-year-old Rehan, who burst onto the scene for his wrist-spin, has seen his batting go up several notches, featuring at the top of the order for Leicestershire as they clinched Division Two of the 2025 County Championship to earn a promotion to Division One. Rehan tallied 760 runs at an average of 50.66, hitting five centuries and taking 23 wickets at 19 apiece in the said season. ALSO READ | From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions In March, England batter Duckett withdrew from his IPL 2026 contract with DC to ensure that he is "in the best possible place physically and mentally" ahead of England's home summer schedule. Duckett, who has never played in the IPL, was bought for Rs 2 crore at the IPL 2026 auction in December last year. The England batter decided to withdraw from the tournament and instead started preparations for England's home summer, which includes three Tests against New Zealand in June and then three Tests against Pakistan in August-September. England are also going to host India for five T20Is and three ODIs in July. ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL In a post on his Instagram story, Ben Duckett said he made the difficult decision to withdraw from the IPL 2026 to focus on being physically and mentally ready to give his best for England's home summer fixtures. "I have made the extremely difficult decision to withdraw from the IPL. I have given this a lot of thought and it has not been an easy choice. Representing England is something I have dreamed of since I was a child, and I want to give everything I can to English cricket. To do that, I need to ensure I am in the best possible place physically and mentally ahead of the summer," he said.

<p>Delhi Capitals on Thursday announced England’s Rehan Ahmed as the replacement for Duckett who pulled out of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) days before the start of the tournament.</p>

IPL 2026: Delhi Capitals finally announce Ben Duckett replacement, Rehan Ahmed joins in INR 75 lakh deal

<p>Rehan Ahmed was at the centre of things in England’s famous run chase against New Zealand in their last Super 8 match in the T20 World Cup. Coming in at number eight, Rehan’s cameo helped England return to the winning position, eventually taking the game away from the Kiwis. Although that result didn’t do much wrong to New Zealand, as they later qualified following Pakistan’s final Super 8 fixture, it boosted England’s confidence, who finished Group 2 with three wins in as many matches. Rehan, however, revealed his team coach, Brendon McCullum, asked him to bat like Virender Sehwag.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Rehan scored an unbeaten 19 off seven balls, including two sixes and a four and alongside Will Jacks, who produced another brilliant knock (32* off 18 balls), helped England complete the run chase with four wickets and three balls remaining.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ecb-cancels-england-lions-vs-pakistan-shaheens-clash-amid-escalating-uae-security-concerns-1772346580397"><strong>ECB cancels England Lions vs Pakistan Shaheen's clash in Abu Dhabi amid escalating UAE security concerns</strong></a><br>&nbsp;</p><p>Having already qualified for the tournament’s semis after winning their first two matches, England made a change to their XI for the New Zealand game, benching Jamie Overton and recalling Ahmed into the side. With the ball in his hand, Ahmed picked up two wickets for 28 in three overs; however, his significant contribution came with the bat in hand during the tight chase.<br>&nbsp;</p><p>Facing his second ball, he smashed Glenn Phillips for a six before hammering Mitchell Santner for a boundary later in the next over. Hitting Santner for a six on the last ball of the 19th over, Ahmed almost sealed the deal for England.&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;</p><p>Revealing what message he received from the top, Ahmed said, "Baz [Brendon McCullum] actually sent one of the walkie-talkie messages downstairs, saying 'tell Reh to bat like Sehwag'," the BBC quoted Ahmed as saying.<br>&nbsp;</p><p>Meanwhile, England finished top in Group 2 and will face the second-placed team from Group 1 in the second semi-final at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on March 5. The India vs West Indies Super 8 match in Kolkata will determine England’s challenger in the marquee semis clash.</p>

Rehan Ahmed shines with bat and ball as England defeats New Zealand to sweep the T20 World Cup Super 8s. From a crucial 19* off 7 balls to a "Virender Sehwag" inspired masterclass, read how England secured the top spot in Group 2 to set up a massive semi-final clash in Mumbai.

Rehan Ahmed was at the centre of things in England’s famous run chase against New Zealand in their last Super 8 match in the T20 World Cup. Coming in at number eight, Rehan’s cameo helped England return to the winning position, eventually taking the game away from the Kiwis. Although that result didn’t do much wrong to New Zealand, as they later qualified following Pakistan’s final Super 8 fixture, it boosted England’s confidence, who finished Group 2 with three wins in as many matches. Rehan, however, revealed his team coach, Brendon McCullum, asked him to bat like Virender Sehwag. Rehan scored an unbeaten 19 off seven balls, including two sixes and a four and alongside Will Jacks, who produced another brilliant knock (32* off 18 balls), helped England complete the run chase with four wickets and three balls remaining. Also read | ECB cancels England Lions vs Pakistan Shaheen's clash in Abu Dhabi amid escalating UAE security concerns Having already qualified for the tournament’s semis after winning their first two matches, England made a change to their XI for the New Zealand game, benching Jamie Overton and recalling Ahmed into the side. With the ball in his hand, Ahmed picked up two wickets for 28 in three overs; however, his significant contribution came with the bat in hand during the tight chase. Facing his second ball, he smashed Glenn Phillips for a six before hammering Mitchell Santner for a boundary later in the next over. Hitting Santner for a six on the last ball of the 19th over, Ahmed almost sealed the deal for England. Revealing what message he received from the top, Ahmed said, "Baz [Brendon McCullum] actually sent one of the walkie-talkie messages downstairs, saying 'tell Reh to bat like Sehwag'," the BBC quoted Ahmed as saying. Meanwhile, England finished top in Group 2 and will face the second-placed team from Group 1 in the second semi-final at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on March 5. The India vs West Indies Super 8 match in Kolkata will determine England’s challenger in the marquee semis clash.

<p>Rehan Ahmed shines with bat and ball as England defeats New Zealand to sweep the T20 World Cup Super 8s. From a crucial 19* off 7 balls to a "Virender Sehwag" inspired masterclass, read how England secured the top spot in Group 2 to set up a massive semi-final clash in Mumbai.</p>

‘Bat Like Sehwag’: How McCullum’s advice sent Rehan Ahmed and England to the top of Super  8s

<p>England have added Rehan Ahmed and Gus Atkinson to their Playing XI for the Rawalpindi Test as they prepare for the showdown clash. Having lost the second Multan Test by 152 runs, the English management has included three spinners considering the spin-friendly nature of the pitch in Rawalpindi. Ahmed will be available for the first time since February, having last played in the Rajkot Test against India, while Atkinson returns after skipping the first Test in Multan.</p>

<h2><strong>England announce squad for Rawalpindi Test</strong></h2>

<p>With the series level at 1-1, England anticipated the need for three spin bowlers&nbsp;and roped in Rehan Ahmed, Jack Leach, and Shoaib Bashir. Atkinson will share the pace bowling duties with skipper Ben Stokes, who are the only options in that department. England have, however, retained faith in Ollie Pope, Joe Root and Harry Brook as they remain the untouchables in the side.</p>

<p>England won the first match in Multan by an innings and 47 runs, where records were broken left, right, and centre. Brook scored 317 while Root ended with 262 runs as Pakistan lost despite scoring 556 runs in their first innings.</p>

<p>On the other hand, Sajid Khan (nine wickets) and Noman Ali (11 wickets) were the architects of the Pakistan win in the second Multan Test. The win was also Pakistan’s first on home turf in three years, and they now aim for their first series win on home soil in Test format since 2005.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rohit-sharma-lauds-sarfaraz-pant-for-mature-knocks-backs-india-to-give-it-all-in-remaining-two-tests-vs-nz-769154">Rohit Sharma lauds Sarfaraz, Pant for mature knocks; backs India to give it all in remaining two Tests vs NZ</a></strong></p>

<p>The second Test match will start on Thursday (Oct 24) with points up for stake in the World Test Championship (WTC). Both sides are virtually out of the WTC final race but will look to add to their tally by winning the series.</p>

<h2><strong>England Squad</strong></h2>

<p>1. Zak Crawley, 2. Ben Duckett, 3. Ollie Pope, 4. Joe Root, 5. Harry Brook, 6. Ben Stokes (capt), 7. Jamie Smith (wk), 8. Gus Atkinson, 9. Rehan Ahmed, 10. Jack Leach, 11. Shoaib Bashir.</p>


England have added Rehan Ahmed and Gus Atkinson to their Playing XI for the Rawalpindi Test as they prepare for the showdown clash. Having lost the second Multan Test by 152 runs, the English management has included three spinners considering the spin-friendly nature of the pitch in Rawalpindi.

England have added Rehan Ahmed and Gus Atkinson to their Playing XI for the Rawalpindi Test as they prepare for the showdown clash. Having lost the second Multan Test by 152 runs, the English management has included three spinners considering the spin-friendly nature of the pitch in Rawalpindi. Ahmed will be available for the first time since February, having last played in the Rajkot Test against India, while Atkinson returns after skipping the first Test in Multan. England announce squad for Rawalpindi Test With the series level at 1-1, England anticipated the need for three spin bowlers and roped in Rehan Ahmed, Jack Leach, and Shoaib Bashir. Atkinson will share the pace bowling duties with skipper Ben Stokes, who are the only options in that department. England have, however, retained faith in Ollie Pope, Joe Root and Harry Brook as they remain the untouchables in the side. England won the first match in Multan by an innings and 47 runs, where records were broken left, right, and centre. Brook scored 317 while Root ended with 262 runs as Pakistan lost despite scoring 556 runs in their first innings. On the other hand, Sajid Khan (nine wickets) and Noman Ali (11 wickets) were the architects of the Pakistan win in the second Multan Test. The win was also Pakistan’s first on home turf in three years, and they now aim for their first series win on home soil in Test format since 2005. ALSO READ | Rohit Sharma lauds Sarfaraz, Pant for mature knocks; backs India to give it all in remaining two Tests vs NZ The second Test match will start on Thursday (Oct 24) with points up for stake in the World Test Championship (WTC). Both sides are virtually out of the WTC final race but will look to add to their tally by winning the series. England Squad 1. Zak Crawley, 2. Ben Duckett, 3. Ollie Pope, 4. Joe Root, 5. Harry Brook, 6. Ben Stokes (capt), 7. Jamie Smith (wk), 8. Gus Atkinson, 9. Rehan Ahmed, 10. Jack Leach, 11. Shoaib Bashir.

PAK vs ENG: Rehan Ahmed, Gus Atkinson included in England Playing XI for Rawalpindi Test

<p>England spinner Rehan Ahmed has returned home due to a family emergency and will not return for the remainder of the tour, ECB said in a statement. England Cricket also announced that they will not bring in his replacement for the final Test in Dharamsala. Rehan played the first three Tests, bagging 11 wickets at an average of 44, including six wickets for 145 in the third Test in Vizag.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Take care, <a href="https://twitter.com/RehanAhmed__16?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RehanAhmed__16</a> ❤️<br />
<br />
Rehan Ahmed will return home for personal reasons.<br />
<br />
He will not be returning to India and we will not be naming a replacement.<br />
<br />
🇮🇳 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvENG?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvENG</a> 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EnglandCricket?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EnglandCricket</a> <a href="https://t.co/T7SgSLYDhp">pic.twitter.com/T7SgSLYDhp</a></p>
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) <a href="https://twitter.com/englandcricket/status/1760872814633001108?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>Captain Ben Stokes left him out of the playing XI for the ongoing fourth Test in Ranchi. However, Rehan’s omission has nothing to do with him heading home midway through the tour, as England had named its playing XI for the do-or-die Test one day before on Thursday, with an announcement surrounding Rehan coming in on the match day on Friday.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-eng-debutant-akash-deep-rips-apart-englands-top-order-on-day-1-of-ranchi-test-watch-693038">IND vs ENG: Debutant Akash Deep rips apart England's top order on Day 1 of Ranchi Test - Watch</a></strong></p>

<p>Meanwhile, England had to wait for Rehan’s availability for the third Test in Rajkot after learning about visa-related issues regarding his arrival from the UAE. After resolving the issue, England named him in the XI for the third Test, which the touring side lost by 434 runs. The leg-spinner returned with three wickets in that match.</p>

<p>For the fourth game, England brought in off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in his place while replacing Mark Wood with Ollie Robinson. Moreover, in the absence of seasoned campaigner Jack Leach, rookie Tom Hartley leads the wickets column with 16 scalps from three matches.</p>

<h2>Debutant Akash Deep floors England in Ranchi</h2>

<p>After electing to bat first in the fourth Test in Ranchi, England got off to a flyer, with Zak Crawley being the architect. Debutant Akash Deep provided the breakthrough by removing Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope quickly. He then removed Crawley, bowled on 42 to pocket his third wicket.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">WWW 🤝 Akash Deep!<br />
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Follow the match ▶️ <a href="https://t.co/FUbQ3Mhpq9">https://t.co/FUbQ3Mhpq9</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamIndia</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvENG?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvENG</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/IDFCFIRSTBank?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IDFCFIRSTBank</a> <a href="https://t.co/YANSwuNsG0">pic.twitter.com/YANSwuNsG0</a></p>
— BCCI (@BCCI) <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/1760897404977512730?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>Playing his 99th Test, Jonny Bairstow stabilised England’s innings with a swift 35-ball 38-run knock; however, Ashwin accounted for his wicket before Ravindra Jadeja removed Stokes on three to put England on the back foot before lunch.</p>

<p>Joe Root and Ben Foakes saved England’s sinking ship during the second session, helping their team cross the 150-run mark.&nbsp;</p>


England spinner Rehan Ahmed has returned home due to a family emergency and will not return for the remainder of the tour, ECB said in a statement. England Cricket also announced that they will not bring in his replacement for the final Test in Dharamsala.

England spinner Rehan Ahmed has returned home due to a family emergency and will not return for the remainder of the tour, ECB said in a statement. England Cricket also announced that they will not bring in his replacement for the final Test in Dharamsala. Rehan played the first three Tests, bagging 11 wickets at an average of 44, including six wickets for 145 in the third Test in Vizag. Take care, @RehanAhmed__16 ❤️ Rehan Ahmed will return home for personal reasons. He will not be returning to India and we will not be naming a replacement. 🇮🇳 #INDvENG 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 #EnglandCricket pic.twitter.com/T7SgSLYDhp — England Cricket (@englandcricket) February 23, 2024 × Captain Ben Stokes left him out of the playing XI for the ongoing fourth Test in Ranchi. However, Rehan’s omission has nothing to do with him heading home midway through the tour, as England had named its playing XI for the do-or-die Test one day before on Thursday, with an announcement surrounding Rehan coming in on the match day on Friday. ALSO READ: IND vs ENG: Debutant Akash Deep rips apart England's top order on Day 1 of Ranchi Test - Watch Meanwhile, England had to wait for Rehan’s availability for the third Test in Rajkot after learning about visa-related issues regarding his arrival from the UAE. After resolving the issue, England named him in the XI for the third Test, which the touring side lost by 434 runs. The leg-spinner returned with three wickets in that match. For the fourth game, England brought in off-spinner Shoaib Bashir in his place while replacing Mark Wood with Ollie Robinson. Moreover, in the absence of seasoned campaigner Jack Leach, rookie Tom Hartley leads the wickets column with 16 scalps from three matches. Debutant Akash Deep floors England in Ranchi After electing to bat first in the fourth Test in Ranchi, England got off to a flyer, with Zak Crawley being the architect. Debutant Akash Deep provided the breakthrough by removing Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope quickly. He then removed Crawley, bowled on 42 to pocket his third wicket. WWW 🤝 Akash Deep! Follow the match ▶️ https://t.co/FUbQ3Mhpq9#TeamIndia | #INDvENG | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/YANSwuNsG0 — BCCI (@BCCI) February 23, 2024 × Playing his 99th Test, Jonny Bairstow stabilised England’s innings with a swift 35-ball 38-run knock; however, Ashwin accounted for his wicket before Ravindra Jadeja removed Stokes on three to put England on the back foot before lunch. Joe Root and Ben Foakes saved England’s sinking ship during the second session, helping their team cross the 150-run mark.

IND v ENG 2024: Rehan Ahmed returns home mid-tour due to family emergency

<p>England cricket team’s off-field issues have once again taken the spotlight after spin sensation Rehan Ahmed was left stranded at the Rajkot Airport on Monday (Feb 12). Ahmed, who along with the rest of his England squad was in the UAE for warm weather, returned to India with a single entry visa that has reportedly seen him being stranded at the airport. This is not the first time England has seen visa issues take the spotlight, with Shoaib Bashir arriving late in India forcing him to miss the opening Test in Hyderabad.</p>

<h2><strong>Rehan Ahmed stranded at airport</strong></h2>

<p>According to several media reports, Ahmed, arriving in India for the second time in 30 days, was carrying a single entry visa which was not permissible for him during the Test match since the visitors are playing in multiple cities. An absence of a multi-entry visa forced Ahmed to stay at the airport for more than two hours before the issue was resolved.</p>

<p>"The England team has been advised to process the visa again which will be happening in the next two days," a BCCI official was quoted&nbsp;saying. "The player was allowed to enter the country with the rest of the team and he will be appearing in practice on Tuesday."</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/blow-to-multan-sultans-as-reece-topley-ruled-out-of-psl-2024-ipl-participation-under-dark-cloud-689620">Blow to Multan Sultans as Reece Topley ruled out of PSL 2024; IPL participation under dark cloud</a></p>

<p>Ahmed after hours of delay was back in the team camp in the hotel and is ready to play in the third Test starting on Thursday (Feb 15) in Rajkot. Notably, considering the previous visa issues, the England team management didn't seem to have learnt its lesson.</p>

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<p>Earlier, Shoaib Bashir was forced to return to the UK after failing to secure his visa for India due to his Pakistani heritage. Like Bashir, Ahmed also has Pakistan heritage but secured his visa to India in October when he was on standby for the ODI World Cup.</p>

<p>While issues off the field are concerning, England will look to switch their attention to the on-field matter when they play the hosts in the third Test. The series is currently level at 1-1 with England winning the Hyderabad contest before Jasprit Bumrah led India to victory in the Vizag match.</p>


England cricket team’s off-field issues have once again taken the spotlight after spin sensation Rehan Ahmed was left stranded at the Rajkot Airport on Monday (Feb 12).

England cricket team’s off-field issues have once again taken the spotlight after spin sensation Rehan Ahmed was left stranded at the Rajkot Airport on Monday (Feb 12). Ahmed, who along with the rest of his England squad was in the UAE for warm weather, returned to India with a single entry visa that has reportedly seen him being stranded at the airport. This is not the first time England has seen visa issues take the spotlight, with Shoaib Bashir arriving late in India forcing him to miss the opening Test in Hyderabad. Rehan Ahmed stranded at airport According to several media reports, Ahmed, arriving in India for the second time in 30 days, was carrying a single entry visa which was not permissible for him during the Test match since the visitors are playing in multiple cities. An absence of a multi-entry visa forced Ahmed to stay at the airport for more than two hours before the issue was resolved. "The England team has been advised to process the visa again which will be happening in the next two days," a BCCI official was quoted saying. "The player was allowed to enter the country with the rest of the team and he will be appearing in practice on Tuesday." ALSO READ | Blow to Multan Sultans as Reece Topley ruled out of PSL 2024; IPL participation under dark cloud Ahmed after hours of delay was back in the team camp in the hotel and is ready to play in the third Test starting on Thursday (Feb 15) in Rajkot. Notably, considering the previous visa issues, the England team management didn't seem to have learnt its lesson. × Earlier, Shoaib Bashir was forced to return to the UK after failing to secure his visa for India due to his Pakistani heritage. Like Bashir, Ahmed also has Pakistan heritage but secured his visa to India in October when he was on standby for the ODI World Cup. While issues off the field are concerning, England will look to switch their attention to the on-field matter when they play the hosts in the third Test. The series is currently level at 1-1 with England winning the Hyderabad contest before Jasprit Bumrah led India to victory in the Vizag match.

IND vs ENG: After Bashir, England face another ordeal, visa issue keeps Rehan Ahmed stranded at Rajkot airport

<p>England have added Leicestershire teenager Rehan Ahmed as back-up for Moeen Ali for the second Ashes Test at Lord’s as the management tries to put a fully fit Playing XI. The England Cricket Board (ECB) on Friday, June 23 added the teenager who will look to add to his only Test cap for the nation. In the meantime, Ali and ECB will be optimistic about Ali’s involvement in the Lord’s affair, having injured his finger during the Edgbaston Test which the hosts lost by two wickets.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Congratulations, Rehan 🤝</p>
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<h2><strong>Ahmed called as back-up</strong></h2>

<p>Ahmed, 18, has been a promising youngster in the County Championship and was rewarded with a Test cap when England toured Pakistan last year. The leg-spinner scalped seven wickets in the Karachi affair with a five-wicket haul in the second innings. However, with Jack Leach retaining his place as the number-one bowler, Ahmed went under the radar and was dropped for the New Zealand tour while also not being considered for the only Test against Ireland.</p>

<p>However, the gates of the national team are yet again open for Ahmed as Leach is out with injury while his backup Ali is also on the treatment table. The veteran bowler, who came out of retirement for the Ashes, is not yet ruled out of the second Ashes Test as the management is optimistic about his chances to make the Playing XI.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/former-indian-opener-virender-sehwag-reacts-to-rumours-of-being-approached-for-chief-selectors-post-607724">Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag reacts to rumours of being approached for chief selector’s post</a></p>

<h2><strong>Who are the options?</strong></h2>

<p>Ali scalped three wickets in the Edgbaston contest but could not bowl long spells in the contest as he struggled with a finger injury. Joe Root was approached by Ben Stokes, who did a decent job by getting the wicket of Alex Carey in the final session of Day 5. The latter has also been touted as a replacement for Ali in the spin department by former captain Nasser Hussain.</p>

<p>According to the Sky Sports commentator, England can go with four pacers while Root can also operate as the only spin option. The second Test match between England and Australia will start on Wednesday, June 28 where England search for parity. Currently, after a nail-biting final day in Edgbaston, Australia are 1-0 up as skipper Pat Cummins led the visitors to a crucial win. He and Nathan Lyon took the Aussies home while putting in an unbeaten stand of 55 runs for the ninth wicket.</p>

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England have added Leicestershire teenager Rehan Ahmed as back-up for Moeen Ali for the second Ashes Test at Lord’s as the management tries to put a fully fit Playing XI.

England have added Leicestershire teenager Rehan Ahmed as back-up for Moeen Ali for the second Ashes Test at Lord’s as the management tries to put a fully fit Playing XI. The England Cricket Board (ECB) on Friday, June 23 added the teenager who will look to add to his only Test cap for the nation. In the meantime, Ali and ECB will be optimistic about Ali’s involvement in the Lord’s affair, having injured his finger during the Edgbaston Test which the hosts lost by two wickets. Congratulations, Rehan 🤝 — England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 23, 2023 × Ahmed called as back-up Ahmed, 18, has been a promising youngster in the County Championship and was rewarded with a Test cap when England toured Pakistan last year. The leg-spinner scalped seven wickets in the Karachi affair with a five-wicket haul in the second innings. However, with Jack Leach retaining his place as the number-one bowler, Ahmed went under the radar and was dropped for the New Zealand tour while also not being considered for the only Test against Ireland. However, the gates of the national team are yet again open for Ahmed as Leach is out with injury while his backup Ali is also on the treatment table. The veteran bowler, who came out of retirement for the Ashes, is not yet ruled out of the second Ashes Test as the management is optimistic about his chances to make the Playing XI. ALSO READ | Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag reacts to rumours of being approached for chief selector’s post Who are the options? Ali scalped three wickets in the Edgbaston contest but could not bowl long spells in the contest as he struggled with a finger injury. Joe Root was approached by Ben Stokes, who did a decent job by getting the wicket of Alex Carey in the final session of Day 5. The latter has also been touted as a replacement for Ali in the spin department by former captain Nasser Hussain. According to the Sky Sports commentator, England can go with four pacers while Root can also operate as the only spin option. The second Test match between England and Australia will start on Wednesday, June 28 where England search for parity. Currently, after a nail-biting final day in Edgbaston, Australia are 1-0 up as skipper Pat Cummins led the visitors to a crucial win. He and Nathan Lyon took the Aussies home while putting in an unbeaten stand of 55 runs for the ninth wicket. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Ashes 2023: England add teenager Rehan Ahmed as Moeen Ali's back-up for Lord's Test

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<p>The injury to Jack Leach is a big blow for England, which was to host Australia this summer for the Ashes. With Leach being the only spinner in the 16-man squad announced for the first two Tests, the board must announce his replacement soon. Former England captain Michael Atherton shared his views on the same – raising questions over who fits best. Is it left-arm orthodox Liam Dawson or youngster Rehan Ahmed? He even went out of the box and suggested all-rounder Will Jacks as Leach’s replacement.</p>

<p>Following a ten-wicket win over Ireland in the one-off Test at the Lord’s, Leach, who picked up four wickets, developed "lower back symptoms"&nbsp;during the game and was ruled out of the five-match series that starts with a first Test in Edgbaston on June 16th.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ashes-2023-big-setback-for-england-as-jack-leach-ruled-out-due-to-stress-fracture-in-lower-back-600477">Ashes 2023: Big setback for England as Jack Leach ruled out due to stress fracture in lower back</a></p>

<p>Speaking with Sky Sports, Atherton said this untimely injury to Leach is a setback for both parties, as he was an integral part of Ben Stokes-Brendon McCullum’s plans moving forward. The former opener added, "It's a desperate blow for him [Leach]. He's had a fair bit to contend with over his international career with sepsis, Crohn's and various illnesses and injuries.</p>

<p>"In the last 12 months, he'd really established himself as a central part of Ben Stokes' team. He's been ever-present, Stokes clearly believes in him. He's been flourishing as a spinner under Stokes,” Atherton said.</p>

<h2>Dawson or Rehan, who replaces Leach?</h2>

<p>Naming replacements are never easy, more so when you don’t have the exact quality in the backups. The ECB finds itself&nbsp;in the same position while naming a like-to-like replacement for Leach. Atherton suggests the left-arm orthodox Liam Dawson looks perfect to fill his shoes, as he had a great run in the County Championship for Hampshire.</p>

<p>"If you want an absolute like-for-like replacement then Liam Dawson is a steady, experienced left-arm spinner. He knows exactly what he's doing,” Atherton said. "He's been in pretty good form at the start of the season for Hampshire. He bats as well."</p>

<p>Citing examples of the inexperienced duo at this stage – Will Jacks and Rehan Ahmed&nbsp;–&nbsp;Atherton feels picking them up could be a safe bet given their little international credentials on Asian soil in the past.</p>

<p>While Wills has played two Tests picking six wickets, Rehan, in his lone Test in Karachi last year, returned with seven wickets in the match.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"England's second and third spinners in Pakistan were Rehan Ahmed and Will Jacks, who both did very well when they played. Jacks took six wickets on debut in Rawalpindi and Ahmed got seven in Karachi. They would be the next cabs off the rank.</p>

<p>"I don't think they'll be worried about throwing Ahmed or Jacks back in but it's not as simple a decision as that. Bowling leg spin in Karachi is very different to the start of an Ashes series in England,” the ex-captain said.</p>

<p>"If they want a really reliable spinner to allow the quicks to operate at the other end then it may not be that they want a young leg spinner who has not bowled that much,” he concluded.</p>

<h3>Here’s England’s 16-man squad for the first two Tests –</h3>

<p>Ben Stokes (captain), James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood</p>

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The injury to Jack Leach is a big blow for England, which was to host Australia this summer for the Ashes. With Leach being the only spinner in the 16-man squad announced for the first two Tests, the board must announce his replacement soon.

The injury to Jack Leach is a big blow for England, which was to host Australia this summer for the Ashes. With Leach being the only spinner in the 16-man squad announced for the first two Tests, the board must announce his replacement soon. Former England captain Michael Atherton shared his views on the same – raising questions over who fits best. Is it left-arm orthodox Liam Dawson or youngster Rehan Ahmed? He even went out of the box and suggested all-rounder Will Jacks as Leach’s replacement. Following a ten-wicket win over Ireland in the one-off Test at the Lord’s, Leach, who picked up four wickets, developed "lower back symptoms" during the game and was ruled out of the five-match series that starts with a first Test in Edgbaston on June 16th. ALSO READ: Ashes 2023: Big setback for England as Jack Leach ruled out due to stress fracture in lower back Speaking with Sky Sports, Atherton said this untimely injury to Leach is a setback for both parties, as he was an integral part of Ben Stokes-Brendon McCullum’s plans moving forward. The former opener added, "It's a desperate blow for him [Leach]. He's had a fair bit to contend with over his international career with sepsis, Crohn's and various illnesses and injuries. "In the last 12 months, he'd really established himself as a central part of Ben Stokes' team. He's been ever-present, Stokes clearly believes in him. He's been flourishing as a spinner under Stokes,” Atherton said. Dawson or Rehan, who replaces Leach? Naming replacements are never easy, more so when you don’t have the exact quality in the backups. The ECB finds itself in the same position while naming a like-to-like replacement for Leach. Atherton suggests the left-arm orthodox Liam Dawson looks perfect to fill his shoes, as he had a great run in the County Championship for Hampshire. "If you want an absolute like-for-like replacement then Liam Dawson is a steady, experienced left-arm spinner. He knows exactly what he's doing,” Atherton said. "He's been in pretty good form at the start of the season for Hampshire. He bats as well." Citing examples of the inexperienced duo at this stage – Will Jacks and Rehan Ahmed – Atherton feels picking them up could be a safe bet given their little international credentials on Asian soil in the past. While Wills has played two Tests picking six wickets, Rehan, in his lone Test in Karachi last year, returned with seven wickets in the match. "England's second and third spinners in Pakistan were Rehan Ahmed and Will Jacks, who both did very well when they played. Jacks took six wickets on debut in Rawalpindi and Ahmed got seven in Karachi. They would be the next cabs off the rank. "I don't think they'll be worried about throwing Ahmed or Jacks back in but it's not as simple a decision as that. Bowling leg spin in Karachi is very different to the start of an Ashes series in England,” the ex-captain said. "If they want a really reliable spinner to allow the quicks to operate at the other end then it may not be that they want a young leg spinner who has not bowled that much,” he concluded. Here’s England’s 16-man squad for the first two Tests – Ben Stokes (captain), James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Ashes 2023: Who should replace injured Jack Leach in squad? Liam Dawson or Rehan Ahmad? Atherton shares views

<p>England teenager leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed will be debuting in the third and final Test against Pakistan in Karachi on Saturday, December 17th. At 18 years and 126 days, Rehan will surpass Brian Close (18 years and 149 days) as England's youngest male Test debutant. Other than him, England have also roped in keeper-batsman Ben Foakes in the XI, captain Ben Stokes has confirmed.</p>

<p>Rehan Ahmed was added to England’s squad for the pre-tour camp in Abu Dhabi. With Liam Livingstone getting ruled out of the ongoing series due to a knee injury, Rehan was left as the only leg-spinning option in the squad. Though he had come on as substitutes in the first two matches, the young all-rounder will making his Test debut at the National Stadium in Karachi.</p>

<p>Ahead of the third Test, Stokes in a presser talked about the changes to the squad and how excited are the team management and everyone in the camp is regarding Rehan’s debut.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pak-vs-eng-3rd-test-live-streaming-how-to-watch-pakistan-vs-england-3rd-test-live-online-app-ott-tv-mobile-543649">PAK vs ENG 3rd Test Live Streaming: How to watch Pakistan vs England 3rd Test live online App-OTT, TV &amp; mobile</a></p>

<p>"We've been thinking about it," Stokes said. "We can't go into too much detail until me and Baz [Brendon McCullum] have had a look at the wicket.</p>

<p>"When we spoke about having Rehan into the squad, it was more than just bringing him in and integrating him into the squad. We did speak about us having no issues with selecting him if we felt it was the right option. I don't think this is a case of, if he was to play, of giving caps away. We picked him in the squad not just because of his talent, but because we thought it would be a good opportunity to play if we thought it was necessary," Ben Stokes said.</p>

<p>Rehan came into limelight after a stunning Under-19 campaign in February earlier this year. He picked up 12 wickets and helped England reach the finals where they lost to India. Later, Rehan made his first-class debut in Division Two of the County Championship in May for Leicestershire and soon after he picked his maiden five-wicket haul and even scored a hundred against Derbyshire. Not only this, he even trained with England’s white-ball squad during their series with South Africa and India.</p>

<p>England are already leading the 3-match Test series 2-0 and will now aim to clean sweep Pakistan at their home for the first time.</p>


England teenager leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed will be debuting in the third and final Test against Pakistan in Karachi on Saturday, December 17th. At 18 years and 126 days, Rehan will surpass Brian Close (18 years and 149 days) as England's youngest male Test debutant.

England teenager leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed will be debuting in the third and final Test against Pakistan in Karachi on Saturday, December 17th. At 18 years and 126 days, Rehan will surpass Brian Close (18 years and 149 days) as England's youngest male Test debutant. Other than him, England have also roped in keeper-batsman Ben Foakes in the XI, captain Ben Stokes has confirmed. Rehan Ahmed was added to England’s squad for the pre-tour camp in Abu Dhabi. With Liam Livingstone getting ruled out of the ongoing series due to a knee injury, Rehan was left as the only leg-spinning option in the squad. Though he had come on as substitutes in the first two matches, the young all-rounder will making his Test debut at the National Stadium in Karachi. Ahead of the third Test, Stokes in a presser talked about the changes to the squad and how excited are the team management and everyone in the camp is regarding Rehan’s debut. ALSO READ: PAK vs ENG 3rd Test Live Streaming: How to watch Pakistan vs England 3rd Test live online App-OTT, TV & mobile "We've been thinking about it," Stokes said. "We can't go into too much detail until me and Baz [Brendon McCullum] have had a look at the wicket. "When we spoke about having Rehan into the squad, it was more than just bringing him in and integrating him into the squad. We did speak about us having no issues with selecting him if we felt it was the right option. I don't think this is a case of, if he was to play, of giving caps away. We picked him in the squad not just because of his talent, but because we thought it would be a good opportunity to play if we thought it was necessary," Ben Stokes said. Rehan came into limelight after a stunning Under-19 campaign in February earlier this year. He picked up 12 wickets and helped England reach the finals where they lost to India. Later, Rehan made his first-class debut in Division Two of the County Championship in May for Leicestershire and soon after he picked his maiden five-wicket haul and even scored a hundred against Derbyshire. Not only this, he even trained with England’s white-ball squad during their series with South Africa and India. England are already leading the 3-match Test series 2-0 and will now aim to clean sweep Pakistan at their home for the first time.

PAK vs ENG 2022, 3rd Test: Rehan Ahmed set to play in Karachi Test, will be England’s youngest debutant

<p>England Test captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum have rated teenager Rehan Ahmed as a special talent. The 18-year-old Rehan played just three first-class matches for Leicestershire - picking up nine wickets and scoring 195 runs. The young all-rounder is likely to make his debut for England in the Test series, starting December 1st in Rawalpindi.</p>

<p>Speaking to the press ahead of the first Test, coach Brendon McCullum spoke at length on&nbsp;the youngster, heaping praises. The former New Zealand skipper, who was branded for playing aggressive and ruthless cricket, said Rehan has the confidence to do well and has the ability to overcome challenges on this tour. McCullum further said this opportunity (Test series against Pakistan) is massive for the young gun to show everyone what he is capable of.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/big-blow-to-england-ahead-of-historic-return-test-in-pakistan-mark-wood-ruled-out-due-to-injury-538280">Big blow to England ahead of historic return Test in Pakistan, Mark Wood ruled out due to injury</a></p>

<p>"What a fabulous kind of opportunity for someone like him," McCullum told the Daily Telegraph. "He seems really confident in himself. He's 18 and on an England tour to Pakistan so there's some real opportunities there and there'll be some challenges along the way, but it's our job to figure this out. We know that he's not the finished product. He's a long way away from that, but he's got something which is pretty kind of special."</p>

<p>Earlier, skipper Ben Stokes&nbsp;also rated all-rounder Rehan as a rare talent while speaking to Sky Sports. Ben said with the talent Rehan posses&nbsp;at this young age, he could achieve a lot more than others.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;"We see him as one of those very rare talents, to have someone at such a young age be so noticeable with the way he bowls and the way he bats," Ben Stokes told Sky Sports.</p>

<p>A match-winner himself Stokes is also aware that Rehan is very young and has a whole cricketing career in front of him. He added saying the management will nurture him going ahead.</p>

<p>"We're fully aware he's not the finished project and I think it's important for his inclusion not to be looked into too much. We see this as an opportunity to get someone as talented as Rehan into the squad and nurture him," he added. "Who knows where he could be in two or three years' time? "I'm excited to have him in the squad, but if we feel we want to chuck him a Test cap, we're in the position to do that."</p>

<p>The first of three-match Test series will begin on December 1st in Rawalpindi.</p>


England Test captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum have rated teenager Rehan Ahmed as a special talent. The 18-year-old Rehan played just three first-class matches for Leicestershire - picking up nine wickets and scoring 195 runs.

England Test captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum have rated teenager Rehan Ahmed as a special talent. The 18-year-old Rehan played just three first-class matches for Leicestershire - picking up nine wickets and scoring 195 runs. The young all-rounder is likely to make his debut for England in the Test series, starting December 1st in Rawalpindi. Speaking to the press ahead of the first Test, coach Brendon McCullum spoke at length on the youngster, heaping praises. The former New Zealand skipper, who was branded for playing aggressive and ruthless cricket, said Rehan has the confidence to do well and has the ability to overcome challenges on this tour. McCullum further said this opportunity (Test series against Pakistan) is massive for the young gun to show everyone what he is capable of. ALSO READ: Big blow to England ahead of historic return Test in Pakistan, Mark Wood ruled out due to injury "What a fabulous kind of opportunity for someone like him," McCullum told the Daily Telegraph. "He seems really confident in himself. He's 18 and on an England tour to Pakistan so there's some real opportunities there and there'll be some challenges along the way, but it's our job to figure this out. We know that he's not the finished product. He's a long way away from that, but he's got something which is pretty kind of special." Earlier, skipper Ben Stokes also rated all-rounder Rehan as a rare talent while speaking to Sky Sports. Ben said with the talent Rehan posses at this young age, he could achieve a lot more than others. "We see him as one of those very rare talents, to have someone at such a young age be so noticeable with the way he bowls and the way he bats," Ben Stokes told Sky Sports. A match-winner himself Stokes is also aware that Rehan is very young and has a whole cricketing career in front of him. He added saying the management will nurture him going ahead. "We're fully aware he's not the finished project and I think it's important for his inclusion not to be looked into too much. We see this as an opportunity to get someone as talented as Rehan into the squad and nurture him," he added. "Who knows where he could be in two or three years' time? "I'm excited to have him in the squad, but if we feel we want to chuck him a Test cap, we're in the position to do that." The first of three-match Test series will begin on December 1st in Rawalpindi.

PAK vs ENG 2022: Brendon McCullum, Ben Stokes rate 18-year-old Rehan Ahmed as a 'rare talent'

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