India v England: Rehan Ahmed leaves tour because of urgent family matter

Rehan Ahmed has taken 18 wickets in four Tests for England

England leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed is leaving the tour of India because of an urgent family matter and will not return.

The 19-year-old was not selected for the fourth Test in Ranchi, which began on Friday.

Ahmed's omission from the team is not linked to his departure from the tour - his need to return home did not emerge until after the XI was announced.

He will leave India later on Friday and England will not name a replacement.

Ahmed's exit leaves England with a travelling squad of 14 players for the final two Tests.

The two remaining frontline spinners, Shoaib Bashir and Tom Hartley, are both in the side for the fourth Test.

Ahmed became the youngest man to play Test cricket for England when he made his debut as an 18-year-old against Pakistan in Karachi in December 2022.

The Leicestershire man has played in each of the first three Tests on this tour, claiming 11 wickets.

England have named three frontline spinners in two of the first three Tests but would have been unlikely to do that for the fifth Test in Dharamsala, where conditions are likely to be the most friendly towards seam bowling of the tour.

Batter Harry Brook pulled out of the series before it began for personal reasons, while senior spinner Jack Leach went home after sustaining a knee injury in the first Test.