Last Updated:
Farhan Ahmed reaches historic feat in County Championship
Farhan has now become the youngest bowler to fetch a five-wicket haul in the history of the County Championship.
Farhan Ahmed, the younger brother of England spinner Rehan Ahmed, achieved a historic feat in his County Championship debut for Nottinghamshire. The 16-year-old featured in a match against Surrey and ripped through the opposition batting order to claim seven wickets.
Farhan has now become the youngest bowler to fetch a five-wicket haul in the history of the County Championship. He was aged 16 years and 189 days when the match started at Trent Bridge on August 29.
The previous record was held by Derbyshire’s Hamidullah Qadri, who registered figures of 5/63 against Glamorgan in 2017. It was also the debut game for Qadri, who made his maiden appearance in the County Championship at the age of 16 years and 203 days.
Farhan Ahmed bowled 50.4 overs in the first innings and conceded 140 runs while recording six maidens. His economy rate of 2.76 was the lowest among the Nottinghamshire bowlers. Ryan Patel was the first Surrey batter to fall victim to Farhan in the 63rd over of their first innings. A few overs later, the young spinner dismissed opposition captain Rory Joseph Burns, who had already scored 161 with eleven boundaries and four sixes. In the very next delivery, England wicketkeeper-batter Ben Foakes returned to the dressing room with a golden duck.
Farhan claimed the wickets of Will Jacks, Tom Lawes, Conor McKerr and centurion Sai Sudarshan later in the innings.
Farhan Ahmed has signed his first professional contract this summer. He is also the youngest player to represent Nottinghamshire in the County Championship. He featured in a match in the One-Day Cup earlier this season. In 2022, Farhan played for Nottinghamshire’s second XI as a 14-year-old.
The talented off-spinner was called up to represent the England Lions in a warm-up match against Sri Lanka ahead of the ongoing Test series. He made his debut for England U-19 against Ireland last summer and was the youngest player ever to earn that opportunity.
Farhan Ahmed’s elder brother Rehan was the youngest player to make his debut for the England Test team. The 20-year-old claimed a five-wicket haul in his first red-ball match for England against Pakistan in 2022. Rehan has represented England in other two formats as well.