Rehan & Farhan Ahmed: Brothers to resume backyard rivalry after T20 Blast clash

The next game of ‘backyard cricket’ between the Ahmed brothers promises more drama than their first T20 Blast meeting.

England international Rehan Ahmed managed just a single off the bowling of younger brother and Notts Outlaws spinner Farhan in Leicestershire’s victory at Grace Road on Thursday evening.

It was the solitary run scored by the 20-year-old off his sibling on the way to a maiden T20 half-century that helped the Foxes chase down Notts’ total of 156 with more than two overs to spare to win by four wickets.

Rehan said facing his 17-year-old brother in a competitive match for the first time was “a great feeling”, even though they had practised together earlier in the day.

“It felt so different out there in the middle,” Rehan told BBC Radio Leicester.

“He has bowled to me a lot, so he knows I will try to run down and stuff, so I was just going to play it safe.”

The younger Ahmed should not expect similar caution from his big brother the next time they meet.

Asked if he would go looking for a six or two off Farhan’s bowling when they face each other at Trent Bridge on 6 July, Rehan laughed and promised fireworks much sooner.

“Maybe it won’t be at Trent Bridge, but maybe in the back garden,” he said.