Image Credit- AP
The England legspinner Rehan Ahmed has cancelled his
tour of India in order to return home due to an urgent family matter. The ECB
said in a statement that neither England nor Rehan will look to replace him in
the squad for the remainder of the series.
The 19-year-old Rehan played in England’s opening
three Test matches against India. At an average of 44, he claimed 11 wickets,
including a match-high 6 for 153 at Visakhapatnam. However, for the fourth
Test, which starts in Ranchi, he was left out of the England XI. Rehan’s need
to travel home, which became apparent only after the selection was named on
Thursday at 1pm, is reportedly unrelated to Ben Stokes’ choice to leave him off
the roster. That afternoon, Rehan was at England’s last training session, lending
a hand with a few drills. Friday, the first day of the fourth Test, he takes a
plane home.
Rehan’s availability for the third Test was delayed
for England earlier this month due to “paperwork discrepancies” that
were discovered after he arrived from the United Arab Emirates before to the
third Test. But it was rectified, and in England’s 434-run loss in Rajkot,
Rehan claimed three wickets.
England have named offspinner Shoaib Bashir in lieu of Rehan for the fourth
Test. Left-arm spinner Tom Hartley, who has taken the most wickets (16)
throughout the trip, is the other spinner in the England XI.