Birmingham Phoenix’s first direct acquisition for the 2026 Hundred season is Rehan Ahmed. Rehan Ahmed English all-rounder Rehan Ahmed joins from the Trent Rockets, who finished second in 2025, after taking 12 wickets and amassing more than 180 runs during that competition.
Additionally, they are in advanced negotiations to sign South African finisher Donovan Ferreira and retain Jacob Bethell on a lucrative contract.
In addition to helping Leicestershire win the County Championship Division Two title with 23 wickets at 19 and an average of 50.67 with the bat, including five hundreds, Rehan Ahmed legspin variations and gutsy batting style have had an influence across formats.
Rehan Ahmed is the first player signed by Phoenix performance director James Thomas and new men’s head coach Shane Bond ahead of the season, and next year’s Hundred will usher in a new era under private ownership. Prior to the auction, which is scheduled for March, teams are permitted to directly sign or retain up to four players; Rehan Ahmed is the first player signed during that timeframe.
Earlier this month, ESPNcricinfo reported that the Phoenix were interested in Rehan Ahmed.
“The vision and strategy set out by James and Bondy was something that I really wanted to be a part of so I’m happy to have signed for the Birmingham Phoenix,” Rehan Ahmed stated. “It’s an ambitious franchise with big plans and Edgbaston is obviously an amazing place to play cricket, so I’m really looking forward to getting started next year and hopefully being part of a squad which will challenge for silverware in The Hundred.”
“He is one of the most highly rated players in the country and has the ability to make a huge impact with both bat and ball,” said Thomas. “Although he is still in the early stages of his career, there is no doubt about his ability and we are confident he will be a key player for the Birmingham Phoenix next season.”
Rehan had a leg muscle strain during a warm-up match against England in Perth for the first Ashes Test last month, which forced him to return home early from the England Lions’ tour of Australia. Since then, he has gone back to Australia to play for the Hobart Hurricanes in the BBL, where he scored two runs off five in their debut game, a four-wicket victory against the Sydney Thunder, while giving up five runs off a single over without a wicket.
Prior to his injury, there were rumours that Rehan, who was not chosen to be Will Jacks’ second spinner in the main Ashes team, may remain with England when the Lions program was over. In the meantime, Jacks has been called up for the second and third Test matches, the latter of which is presently taking place in Adelaide. Rehan has made 23 appearances for England so far, including five Test matches.
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