Former Pakistan cricketer-turned-cab driver’s son claims hat-trick in England T20 league

Farhan finished with remarkable figures of 5 for 25, as Lancashire were bowled out for just 126. His hat-trick came in the final three balls of his spell and proved pivotal in sealing Notts’ four-wicket victory — with 28 balls to spare.

Still only 17, Farhan continues to build on a precocious career. Last season, he made headlines by becoming the youngest cricketer in Britain to claim 10 wickets in a first-class match, and had earlier debuted for Nottinghamshire at 16 — the youngest first-class player in the club’s history.

Nottinghamshire initially stuttered in their chase but were anchored by a match-winning 75 from Tom Moores, ensuring Farhan’s brilliance didn’t go in vain. However, the win wasn’t enough to take Notts into the quarter-finals, as they finished sixth in the North Group.

The Ahmed brothers’ rise is a remarkable tale of perseverance and talent. Their father, Naeem Ahmed, was himself a fast-bowling all-rounder born in Mirpur, in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. He moved to England in 2001 with his wife, and began working as a taxi driver to support his young family — putting aside his own cricketing dreams in the process.

Rehan Ahmed, now a regular England squad member, made his Test debut in December 2022 as the youngest male Test cricketer for England, claiming five wickets against Pakistan in Karachi. His talent had been spotted early — even legendary Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne took note of him in the nets at Lord’s when Rehan was just 12.

From playing on the pitch to analysing it from the press box, Satish has spent over three decades living and breathing sport. A cricketer-turned-journalist, he has covered three Cricket World Cups, the 2025 Champions Trophy, countless IPL seasons, F1 races, horse racing classics, and tennis in Dubai. Cricket is his home ground, but he sees himself as an all-rounder - breaking stories, building pages, going live on podcasts, and interviewing legends across every corner of the sporting world. Satish started on the back pages, and earned his way to the front, now leading the sports team at Gulf News, where he has spent 25 years navigating the fast-evolving game of journalism. Whether it’s a Super-Over thriller or a behind-the-scenes story, he aims to bring insight, energy, and a fan’s heart to every piece. Because like sport, journalism is about showing up, learning every day, and giving it everything.

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