Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Rehan Ahmed becomes youngest bowler to take five-wicket haul on Test debut

The 18-year-old broke the record held by Australia’s Pat Cummins.

Rehan Ahmed becomes youngest bowler to take five-wicket haul on Test debut

England leg spinner Rehan Ahmed picked five wickets on his test debut to put the team on course for a comfortable victory in the third and final test against Pakistan in Karachi on Monday.

With two days of play remaining, England need 55 runs to win the test and become the first test team to complete a 3-0 whitewash in Pakistan, having won the first two tests in Rawalpindi and Multan.


Ahmed's spin bowling proved to be the game-changer for Ben Stokes' team as wickets tumbled in clusters at the National Stadium.

The 18-year-old became the youngest debutant in men's test history to take a five-for, beating the record held by Australia's Pat Cummins.

After scoring 304 in the first innings, Pakistan were bowled out for 216 in the second, setting England a target of 167. The visitors struck 354 in their first innings.

Zak Crawley (41) and Ben Duckett (50 not out) made a flying start for England in their chase and the visitors will begin day four at 112-2, with Stokes (10) also at the crease.

Earlier, spinner Jack Leach took three top-order wickets in six balls in the morning session before Babar Azam and Saud Shakeel struck a 110-run partnership to keep Pakistan in the contest.

But Stokes then introduced Ahmed in the afternoon session and the youngster ripped apart Pakistan's middle order.

Resuming on an overnight score of 21-0, trailing by 29 runs, Pakistan lost opener Shan Masood for 24 while Azhar Ali was out for a duck in his final test appearance.

Leach then trapped Abdullah Shafique (26) lbw for his third wicket as the hosts, playing for pride in front of their home crowd, looked desperate for a turnaround.

Half-centuries by Babar and Saud added some life to Pakistan's fight but Ahmed derailed their revival with three vital wickets.

The 18-year-old got his biggest scalp when Babar was caught by Ollie Pope in mid-wicket and Ahmed later removed Mohammad Rizwan with a perfect leg-break delivery.

Saud was Ahmed's third victim before Mohammad Wasim was added to the list as the youngster was cheered on by his father, who was beaming with joy in the stands.

Ahmed completed his five-wicket haul by removing Agha Salman, leading the England team off the field as he tossed the ball up and down in his hands in celebration.

Joe Root and Mark Wood were also among the wicket-takers.

More For You

Modi arrives in Saudi Arabia to strengthen strategic ties

Prime minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday (22)

Modi arrives in Saudi Arabia to strengthen strategic ties

INDIA’S prime minister Narendra Modi arrived in Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah on Tuesday (22) for his third visit as prime minister to the oil-rich Gulf kingdom.

The trip came a day after Modi held talks with US vice-president JD Vance in India, with New Delhi looking to seal a trade deal with Washington and stave off punishing tariffs.

Keep ReadingShow less
Veterans urge nation to 'unite and remember' in VE Day letter

Samina Mahroof, a cutter at the JW Plant Flag Company works on flag orders ahead of the VE Day 80th anniversary on March 18, 2025 in Leeds, England. (Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)

Veterans urge nation to 'unite and remember' in VE Day letter

TEN surviving Second World War veterans, including three from the British Indian Army, have written an open letter urging people across the UK to come together and remember the sacrifices made during the war.

Launched on Wednesday (23) by the /Together Coalition, the letter is part of a wider campaign marking the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day, which falls on May 5.

Keep ReadingShow less
Vinay Narwal

Lieutenant Vinay Narwal of the Indian Navy, 26, from Haryana, was among those killed in the attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam.

Photo: X/@indiannavy

Navy officer on honeymoon, grandfather vacationing with grandkids among 26 killed in Kashmir attack

LIEUTENANT Vinay Narwal of the Indian Navy had been married just six days earlier. He was on his honeymoon in Pahalgam when he was shot in the head by a terrorist while eating bhelpuri with his wife.

Manjunatha, a tourist from Karnataka, was asked if he was Hindu or Muslim before being shot dead.

Keep ReadingShow less
Who is Saifullah Kasuri, the  mastermind behind Pahalgam attack?

Saifullah Kasuri

Who is Saifullah Kasuri, the  mastermind behind Pahalgam attack?

THE tourist town of Pahalgam in India's Jammu and Kashmir witnessed one of the worst terror attacks in the region on Tuesday (22) since the abrogation of Article 370. A group of heavily armed terrorists opened fire on unsuspecting tourists at Baisaran meadow, killing 26 people and injuring many more.

The attack sent shockwaves across the country and drew condemnation from leaders both in India and abroad. Within hours, a group known as The Resistance Front (TRF), widely believed to be a proxy of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility.

Keep ReadingShow less
Hertfordshire Police treat vandalism of Muslim graves as Islamophobic hate crime

The damage to plaques at Carpenders Park Cemetery has sparked outrage in the Muslim community

Hertfordshire Police treat vandalism of Muslim graves as Islamophobic hate crime

Grant Williams

HERTFORDSHIRE Police have said they are “confident” the desecration of Muslim graves at a cemetery in north London “was a religiously motivated act”.

The leader of the council that owns the cemetery visited the site last week to speak to grieving families following the horrific incident.

Keep ReadingShow less