PAK vs ENG: Rehan Ahmed Expected To Make His Test Debut As Ben Stokes Considers His Alternatives For Karachi Test

Updated - 16 Dec 2022, 11:41 AM

Rehan Ahmed (Getty Images)

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In the third Test against Pakistan, Rehan Ahmed may make his debut as England attempts to sweep the series 3-0. If chosen, Ahmed, an 18-year-old all-around legspinner, would make his debut for the men’s squad as the youngest player ever.

He was added to the team at the pre-tour training in Abu Dhabi, and while he hasn’t participated in the first two Tests directly, he has served as a regular replacement fielder, particularly in the Rawalpindi Test after Liam Livingstone sustained a tour-ending knee injury.

When left-arm spinner Jack Leach’s participation in that first Test was in doubt due to an illness that afflicted half the team, Rehan Ahmed almost made the starting lineup. Leach persevered, and he has given the slow-bowling alternatives on two flat pitches together with the off-spin of Joe Root and Will Jacks.

We Picked Rehan Ahmed Not Just Because Of His Talent: Ben Stokes

However, due to Livingstone’s injury, Rehan Ahmed is the only wrist-spinner on the team. He and the other alternates trained at Karachi’s National Stadium on Thursday while those who took part in the 26-run victory in Multan were given the day off to relax or play golf. This resumed his efforts in the nets.

Test captain Ben Stokes confirmed Rehan Ahmed was being seriously considered for the last game of 2022 during a press conference on Thursday morning at the team hotel. Ben Foakes is anticipated to return behind the wickets in Karachi, freeing up Ollie Pope to concentrate on batting at No. 3, but Stokes reiterated that awarding Ahmed his maiden cap will be based on merit rather than altruism.

“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.”

Rehan Ahmed’s breakout year would be capped off with his first international appearance. In February, when England finished second to India in the Under-19 World Cup, it all started with 12 wickets. He made his first-class debut in Division Two of the County Championship in May, and he finished the summer against Derbyshire with his first five-wicket haul and century.

He played five games for Southern Brave in the Hundred between stints practicing with England’s white-ball teams during their series with South Africa and India.

Having A Wrist Spinner Is Always Exciting: Ben Stokes

Although Rehan Ahmed was added at the last minute, his inclusion in the 15-man team for this is Pakistan’s first series since 2005 was not unexpected. Two key lessons from the prospect’s initial selection meeting were that it was crucial to protect Ahmed from outside pressure, especially from the media, and that head coach McCullum wanted to see and work with Ahmed first before bringing him on tour.

Rehan Ahmed had that chance at the training camp, and McCullum was appropriately impressed by both his talent and attitude. In England against England Lions warm-up game, he did not have the best time with the ball, giving up 73 runs in eight wicketless overs, but he showed some of his grit with the bat, scoring 26 runs off only 10 deliveries for the Lions.

He has continued to make an impression over the last few weeks. And it was instructive that, when asked of what he has made of the youngster, Stokes admitted he isn’t sure which of Ahmed’s two suits is his strongest.

“I’m struggling to work out what he is, whether he’s a batter or a legspinner, which is I guess good, because it shows how much talent he’s got. We got snippets of what he can do with the bat in that warm-up game briefly.

“But having a wrist-spinner is always exciting, especially for England, but it’s not getting too carried away with the potential that he has, because he is only young, and you’ve still got to nurture talent, even how exciting it is.”

I Have Always Felt Cricket Is A Very Inclusive Sport: Rehan Ahmed

Rehan Ahmed will be the first player from a minority background to be chosen under Stokes’ captaincy, it is important to note if he is chosen. The first nine XIs chosen have all been white. As Azeem Rafiq noted during his Tuesday testimony before the DCMS committee, English cricket is now going through a moment of reflection on race.

Along with recommendations to the ECB from the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) to improve equality around race, gender, and class, the Cricket Discipline Commission’s postponed hearing into allegations of racism against Rafiq’s former county, Yorkshire, will take place in the coming year.

The lack of variety in the area surrounding the England squad is mostly a result of problems lower on the food chain. Stokes said that he thought cricket was an inclusive sport but that Rehan Ahmed might serve as an inspiration for younger generations when questioned about the matter.

“Whenever I have been asked about this, I have always felt cricket is a very inclusive sport,” he said. “Certainly, in my time in the England team you have been selected on your skills as a cricketer first and foremost. That still should be the way going forward regardless of your beliefs or what you look like or anything like that. If you’re good enough to represent this country, you’re going to get picked.

“Players especially like Rehan, he could be an unbelievable example to set to younger kids who want to come up. They may have maybe heard about what’s happened in cricket recently [but] he can be seen an example of ‘no, we’ve got this 18-year-old hopefully a potential superstar, why can’t I be that?’ But English cricket to me has always been if you’re good enough, you’re going to get selected and I don’t see it being any different going forward.”

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