England Test record holder Ahmed gets nod for Bangladesh series

By Sports Desk February 02, 2023

England's youngest male Test cricketer Rehan Ahmed will have a first chance to shine in white-ball internationals after being called up for next month's ODIs and T20I matches against Bangladesh.

The Leicestershire spinner was 18 years and 126 days old when he played against Pakistan in Karachi in December, taking seven wickets in the match as England completed a Test series clean sweep at the National Stadium.

He was left out of the squad heading to New Zealand for two Tests in February, but Ahmed will have the chance to make his debut in both short formats in March after being selected for the three-match ODI series against Bangladesh, which is followed by three T20I games.

England are World Cup holders in ODIs and T20Is, and Ahmed will be joined by a fellow uncapped player after Somerset batter Tom Abell was also included.

Lancashire paceman Saqib Mahmood features in the ODI squad as he returns to the England fold after recovering from a stress fracture of the back, while Jos Buttler captains the teams.

The series will see the teams play ODIs on March 1, 3 and 6, and T20Is on March 9, 12 and 14.

England ODI squad: Jos Buttler (captain), Tom Abell, Rehan Ahmed, Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Sam Curran, Saqib Mahmood, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Jason Roy, Phil Salt, Reece Topley, James Vince, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.

England T20I squad: Jos Buttler (captain), Tom Abell, Rehan Ahmed, Moeen Ali, Jofra Archer, Sam Curran, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Chris Jordan, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Reece Topley, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.

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    West Indies Head coach Andre Coley is exuding quiet confidence as his team prepares for their upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh.

    With the matches—scheduled for November 22-26 in Antigua and November 30 to December 4 in Kingston—marking the final home series in the current World Test Championship cycle, Coley is determined to see the Caribbean side end the year on a high note after recent setbacks.

    The West Indies are coming off a disappointing tour of South Africa, where they failed to capitalize on key moments and eventually lost that two-match series 1-0 after the first game ended in a draw. Reflecting on those matches, Coley stressed the importance of learning from the past and seizing the opportunity to close out this series on a strong note. 

    “Coming off the disappointment of the South Africa series, we put ourselves in a position to close out that series, and we didn’t. So the opportunity is there for us to do so against Bangladesh now, and it is very important for us to come up with a winning result on home soil,” Coley said in a pre-series interview.

    “We’ve always had exciting and challenging series against Bangladesh, and this series offers a chance to create momentum as we head into tougher assignments in Australia and Pakistan,” he added. 

    Coley and his team, which includes players from the regional 50-over tournament and recent white-ball series, are currently in Antigua fine-tuning preparations ahead of Friday’s first day.

    Despite initial weather disruptions, Coley pointed out that the team has had productive sessions, with all players fit and ready for action. 

    While West Indies boast a strong home record against Bangladesh, Coley is keen to keep his squad grounded. He recognizes the challenges posed by Bangladesh and the added intrigue of familiar faces on the opposition side, including Bangladesh Head coach Chandika Hathurusingha, a figure Coley knows well. 

    “Each match brings a different opportunity. We have players who’ve been successful against Bangladesh, both home and away, but we also have some new players who wouldn’t have played in any of those series. So it’s an opportunity for senior players and emerging players to show what they are capable of and what we are capable of as a team,” Coley noted.

    The series against Bangladesh serves as a vital stepping stone beyond the larger context of the World Test Championship, as West Indies sit at the foot of the standings in ninth on 20 points.

    Still, with four matches left in the cycle, Coley is focused on building a cohesive unit capable of competing at the highest level.

    “This series is about putting everything together from the last year and a half and ending the year in good form,” he declared.

    That said, the Jamaican highlighted the importance of fan support, especially during the festive season. Cricket remains a unifying force in the Caribbean, and Coley hopes that fans will rally behind the team.

    “I know that the West Indian fans really want us to do well and have been supportive in their own way because cricket means a lot to the region and the fans are very passionate about the game. Despite the nature of our squad, emerging and experienced players, everyone in the squad wants to do well, so I want to encourage the fans to come out and support us and give us that extra boost of encouragement at home,” Coley ended.

  • Bangladesh tour match ends in rain-affected draw against West Indies Select XI Bangladesh tour match ends in rain-affected draw against West Indies Select XI

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    Resuming from their overnight score of 5 for 1 in response to Bangladesh's first-innings total of 253-7, the West Indies Select XI struggled to find their footing. The hosts were restricted to 87-9 in just 27.4 overs, with only Kimani Melius (23), Justin Greaves (20), and Daniel Beckford (19) reaching double figures.

    Bangladesh's bowlers were relentless, led by Hasan Murad, who delivered a remarkable spell, taking three wickets for just one run. Hasan Mahmud and Taskin Ahmed chipped in with two wickets apiece, ensuring the West Indies XI could not mount a significant challenge.

    On Sunday, Bangladesh’s innings was anchored by contributions from Jaker Ali (48), Mahidal Islam (41), and 31 each from Litton Das and Mominul Haque. The visiting team posted a competitive 253-7 despite tight bowling from Jair McAllister and Chaim Holder, both finishing with figures of 2-48.

    While the match provided valuable preparation for Bangladesh, the rain-affected nature of the contest limited opportunities for extended play. The touring side will take heart from their bowlers’ performance, while they prepare to face the West Indies senior team.

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    The hosts raced to a seven-wicket victory with almost nine overs remaining in Monday's third match.

    After Australia's bowlers had limited Pakistan to just 117 runs, Stoinis ensured they signed off their final white-ball assignment in style, with his unbeaten 61 doing the damage.

    Only twice has he bettered that knock in T20Is – versus New Zealand in 2021 (78) and against Oman at the World Cup earlier this year (67*). 

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    "I think in the middle overs, we didn't capitalise on the start," he said. "But lots of positives.

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    "It's obviously a big achievement winning the ODI series, but we could have done much better in the T20Is."

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