The Pakistan Cricket Board was finally able to extend an invitation to the England squad for a three-match Test series after a long wait of 17 years.
Though, what did they receive in return?
Just who expected a 3-0 defeat on their own turf?
The Ben Stokes-led team had a nearly impossible chance of reaching the championship game in the current World Test Championship cycle. The men in green were still alive until this historical tour, but England made a mockery out of this series when they knocked Babar’s team out of the race.
How many 18-year-olds have taken a fifer in Test cricket till now? No one. Well, this was before the third Test match between England and Pakistan. But now we have one name who became the youngest ever in the history of Test cricket to achieve this feat, and his name is Rehan Ahmed. Taking a fifer on his debut was nothing but icing on the cake for the little guy.
Rehan Ahmed- Remember Him and His Game
Rehan Ahmed, an eighteen-year-old whose father was born in Pakistan, received his first England test call-up to play against Pakistan. One can say, on home soil or against the home opponents. He made history by picking up a five-wicket haul on debut that will live on for a long time. Not only did he make his father proud but also announced himself on the bigger stage in style.
In the world where we all were talking about Under-19 World Cup stars, Yash Dhull, Dewald Brevis, Vicky Ostwal and Matheesha Pathirana, Rehan Ahmed was lost somewhere or did not get much popularity. But he took no time to make himself popular, and that too in the most beautiful format of the game, Test Cricket.
In the Under-19 World Cup 2022, Rehan made just four appearances for the Englishmen and took 12 wickets. And you won’t believe, he took three four-wicket hauls and as he was wicket less in the clash against India U-19.
Having the lead of 2-nil in the series, there wasn’t a perfect time than this to play Rehan in the third Test. And he did not upset his captain, picking up two wickets in the first innings and taking a fifer in the second innings. His five-wicket haul includes the wickets of Pakistan captain Babar Azam, inform Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan. How can this feat not be special, if it includes Pakistan’s three top guns?
Captain Stokes also promoted Rehan to bat up in the order, where he smashed two fours, which demonstrates his ability to hit the ball, which seems to be necessary when batting in the Bazball set-up.
Ever since Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum have taken up the role of captain and coach for England in the longest format of the game, they haven’t lost a single game.
With the blooming confidence in this group, it allows the young players like Rehan Ahmed, Will Jacks and Harry Brook to play with their natural capabilities and express themselves at the bigger stage.
