Watchful cousins Rehan Ahmed and Farhan Ahmed will resume their rivalry on July 6 at Trent Bridge. Their Classic rivalry continues to burn red hot after a fiery first T20 Blast match up. The two brothers continued a history of spirited ‘backyard cricket’ games. As their most recent clash goes, it has a bit more gravity after their first competitive encounter on the international, official cricket pitch.
In their recent meeting, Rehan Ahmed, aged 20, emerged victorious, scoring 52 runs off 37 balls to help Leicestershire chase down Nottinghamshire’s total of 156 with over two overs to spare. His role as chief destroyer left Leicestershire 4 wickets to the better and well deserved victory. He further went on to become player of the match! In his post-match interview, he taunted younger brother Farhan, 17, about their backyard brawls.
“I’ve picked on him pretty good the last couple of months,” said head coach Alfonso Thomas. He’s got plenty of bats upstairs, and I jokingly say that he’s got more bats than runs! This further underscores the good-natured competition between the two sibling titans.
Though all this good natured ribbing was in fun, Rehan confessed it would be intimidating to go up against Farhan in such a cutthroat environment. He later commented, “I didn’t realize how different it was out there in the middle! That level of competition was the complete opposite of their usual games in the pasture behind their house.”
Mark and Craig had sparred earlier that day, which only stoked their competitive fire ahead of the rematch. Rehan’s major contribution was a sweeping 69-run fourth-wicket partnership forged with Louis Kimber. This night was a testament to his talent shining brightest when the pressure is on.
As the date of their next meeting draws near, Rehan vows this time to deliver even more action and thrills. “Maybe it won’t be at Trent Bridge, but maybe in the back garden,” he quipped, hinting at the playful nature of their rivalry that extends beyond professional matches.
More recently, Alfonso Thomas had words of praise for Rehan’s development. He’s proven me wrong in these last few months coming in and doing a great job for us.” He continued, “He’s a quality performer, obviously an international performer for us. His remarks truly showcase just how talented Rehan is. More importantly, they highlight the growing importance of each brother to their respective teams.
Next week’s match at Trent Bridge will be more than just another T20 game. It’s powered by fraternal competition and the pyrotechnics of football ⚽️! Fans of the titanic rivalry between the two states can’t wait to see how this interesting new dynamic plays out. The Ahmed brothers’ second showdown is on the way!
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