England replaced leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed with Shoaib Bashir in the playing XI for the fourth Test against India at Ranchi, which started on Friday. England, who are 2-1 behind in the five-match series, made two changes to their playing XI. Apart from Bashir replacing Ahmed, Ollie Robinson came in for Mark Wood.
Ben Stokes-led England have now revealed that Rehan Ahmed will not only be sitting out of the fourth Test, but he has also been ruled out of fifth Test at Dharamsala. The 19-year-old leg-spinner is returning home and has withdrawn from the remainder of India tour due to personal reasons, the England and Wales Cricket Board announced on Friday.
“Rehan Ahmed will return home for personal reasons with immediate effect from England Men’s Test tour of India. He will not be returning to India,” ECB said.
ECB has also announced that they will not be replacing Ahmed for the rest of the tour.
The leg-spinner played in all three Tests so far, taking 11 wickets including a six-fer at Vizag. He has been England’s second-highest wicket-taker after Tom Hartley.