Rehan Ahmed Earns Maiden Lions Call-Up
Mon 4 Jul 2022
Leicestershire CCC leg spinner Rehan Ahmed has earned a maiden call up to the England Lions setup for their two Royal London 50-over internationals against South Africa later this month.
The Academy Graduate will feature as part of a 13-player squad for the one-day matches against the Proteas starting on 12 July at Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton.
Ahmed’s selection follows a tremendous first T20 Vitality Blast campaign for the Foxes, in which the 17-year-old recorded 19 wickets at an average of 20.15, conceding an economical 7.34 runs per over.
The teenager took 3 for 17 in Sunday’s 60-run victory over Yorkshire to help the Foxes finish the Blast with five consecutive wins, while he registered a career-best return of 4 for 22 in the Foxes’ 51-run win at Durham in June.
Ahmed is no stranger to starring in an England shirt either, having taken 12 wickets in four innings during the ICC Under-19 World Cup earlier this year, including a match-defining spell in the semi-final against Afghanistan which saw the leg spinner claim three wickets in an over to turn the tide.
The all-rounder has enjoyed a meteoric ascent to the Running Foxes’ First Team, debuting as a 16-year-old in last season's Royal London One-Day Cup. He finished with five wickets and averaged 44.5 with the bat in an impressive seven-game campaign.
After being identified as one of the most exciting prospects on the county circuit, Ahmed was rewarded with a contract for this summer’s Hundred, drafted by reigning champions Southern Brave to aid the defence of their title.
He was also rewarded with a new Leicestershire contract, signing a long-term deal in April to cement his future at Uptonsteel County Ground until 2026.
A maiden first-class appearance for the Running Foxes followed, as Ahmed became the landmark 500th player to be capped in County Championship cricket for Leicestershire during the fixture with Worcestershire at New Road in May.
England Lions' fixtures against South Africa take place on Tuesday 12 July at Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton (11am start), and Thursday 14 July at New Road, Worcester (11am start).
