Ahmed has a "big future" after stunning England debut as Rashid comparison made

25 January 2023 , 11:44

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Rehan Ahmed took a five wicket haul on his England debut (Image: Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)

Former England spinner Monty Panesar believes Rehan Ahmed is a "huge prospect" with a "big future" after enjoying a dream Test debut against Pakistan.

Ahmed became England's youngest Test debutant at the age of just 18 years and 126 days when he played in the final Test in Karachi last month. And things could not have gone much better for the youngster as he played a key role in England's win, taking 5-48 in Pakistan's second innings.

And Panesar, who played 50 Tests for England and picked up 167 wickets, is a big fan of Ahmed. "England had done so well in Pakistan that they had a luxury Test match to have a look at him and he did really well," Panesar told Oneindia.

"He performed well and he showed his credentials. I don't know if he will play regularly, but he will go on trips and if Jack Leach is unable to perform then they've got someone there in Rehan Ahmed.

"He puts pace on the ball, that's the most important thing for a spinner in Test cricket. But seeing him, his glass ceiling is high.

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"He's only had a bit of experience, but with Rehan Ahmed you think 'yeah, he's got a big future'." However, Panesar also highlighted the lure of lucrative franchise competitions around the world as a potential dilemma facing the teenager.

Monty Panesar is confident Ahmed has a "big future" ahead of him (Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)

Ahmed is widely expected to be Adil Rashid's long-term successor for England and Panesar has likened him to Afghanistan superstar Rashid Khan, one of the best white-ball bowlers in the world.

"Because he's playing a lot of franchise cricket at the moment and doing really well in the ILT20 in Dubai, that demand and earning potential means we may just see him as a second spinner in Test cricket but he ends up becoming similar to someone like Rashid Khan," he added.

"An unbelievable leg spin bowler in franchise cricket [capable of] batting at the top of the order. A huge prospect he is."

Matthew Cooper