Former Pakistan cricketer-turned-cab driver’s son claims hat-trick in England T20 league

Dubai: The son of a former Pakistan cricketer-turned-cab driver has created history in England’s domestic cricket. Off-spinner Farhan Ahmed, 17, younger brother of England Test spinner Rehan Ahmed, claimed Nottinghamshire’s first-ever T20 hat-trick and a five-wicket haul to star in a Vitality Blast win over Lancashire on Friday at Trent Bridge.

Farhan finished with remarkable figures of 5 for 25, as Lancashire were bowled out for just 126. His hat-trick came in the final three balls of his spell and proved pivotal in sealing Notts’ four-wicket victory — with 28 balls to spare.

Still only 17, Farhan continues to build on a precocious career. Last season, he made headlines by becoming the youngest cricketer in Britain to claim 10 wickets in a first-class match, and had earlier debuted for Nottinghamshire at 16 — the youngest first-class player in the club’s history.

His spell on Friday dismantled Lancashire’s middle and lower order, after dismissing captain Keaton Jennings earlier in the innings. Despite a solid opening stand from Jennings and Phil Salt, Lancashire collapsed under Farhan’s pressure.

Nottinghamshire initially stuttered in their chase but were anchored by a match-winning 75 from Tom Moores, ensuring Farhan’s brilliance didn’t go in vain. However, the win wasn’t enough to take Notts into the quarter-finals, as they finished sixth in the North Group.

The Ahmed brothers’ rise is a remarkable tale of perseverance and talent. Their father, Naeem Ahmed, was himself a fast-bowling all-rounder born in Mirpur, in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. He moved to England in 2001 with his wife, and began working as a taxi driver to support his young family — putting aside his own cricketing dreams in the process.

Now, both his sons are living those dreams on the biggest stages of English cricket.

Rehan Ahmed, now a regular England squad member, made his Test debut in December 2022 as the youngest male Test cricketer for England, claiming five wickets against Pakistan in Karachi. His talent had been spotted early — even legendary Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne took note of him in the nets at Lord’s when Rehan was just 12.

Farhan’s explosive rise in white-ball cricket adds to the growing Ahmed family legacy — and there’s more to come, with another left-arm seamer in the wings.