Leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed will become England's youngest men's Test cricketer if becomes part of the team’s playing XI against Pakistan in December.
Ahmed, who has been added to the England squad for the three-Test series beginning on December 1, is aged 18 years and 103 days.
If he gets the cap for any of the Test matches to be played in Rawalpindi, Multan or Karachi, he will surpass the record held by the late Brian Close, who was 18 years and 149 days old when he made his debut for England against New Zealand in 1949.
Ahmed, son of the Pakistan-born fast-bowling all-rounder Naeem, has been training with the second-string England Lions in the United Arab Emirates during the past three weeks.
Ahmed's rise is all the more significant as he has played only three first-class matches, having made his County Championship debut for Leicestershire against Worcestershire in May this year.
With a mere nine first-class wickets to his credit, he will now tour Pakistan where pitches generally favour slow bowlers.
The announcement of his inclusion in the Test squad came just after he had just finished playing for the Lions against the senior England XI on the opening day of a warm-up match in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday (23).
He bowled eight overs and conceded 73 runs without taking any wickets.
However, England’s red-ball coach Brendon McCullum said both he and Test captain Ben Stokes had been impressed by Ahmed's approach to the game.
"We know he's not the finished article and has raw potential, but Ben, myself and the rest of the coaches like how he approaches his game," McCullum said in a statement released by the England and Wales Cricket Board.
"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," the former New Zealand player said.
The England squad will leave for Pakistan on Saturday.
Rehan Ahmed may become England’s youngest Test player
The leg-spinner made his County Championship debut for Leicestershire in May and played just three first class matches
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)