England drop Rehan Ahmed and Rew from Test squad for Lions white-ball series 2026

Rehan Ahmed and Rew are named in England's Lions 50-over squad for a three-match series starting June 5, 2026.

Lions squad named Rehan Ahmed and Rew were left out of England’s Test team for the match against New Zealand at Lord’s but have been included in a 17-man England Lions squad for a three-game one-day series. The series begins Friday at Grace Road, Leicester. Players will join and leave the squad at different times to allow them to play county cricket in the T20 Blast when not selected. ## Key returns and debutants Saqib Mahmood returns to the squad as he continues his recovery from the knee injury that ended his T20 World Cup campaign. Jordan Cox is included after completing his IPL duties this week, while Mason Crane, last capped in 2018, earns a recall following a strong start to the season with Glamorgan. Middlesex’s Caleb Falconer, who scored a century in England’s Under-19 World Cup final defeat to India earlier this year, also makes the squad, alongside former Under-19 teammates Ben Mayes and Thomas Rew. ## Series purpose and fixtures The series offers Cox, Mahmood, Rehan Ahmed, Sussex’s James Coles and others a chance to impress before England finalize their white-ball squads for the series against India next month. India will face England in five T20Is and three ODIs from July 1 to 19, with selection discussions expected in the coming weeks. The Lions have played just one 50-over match in the past three years after four of five scheduled games against Pakistan A in March were called off due to geopolitical issues in the Middle East. ## South Africa A squad details South Africa’s touring squad includes several current internationals such as Ottneil Baartman, Gerald Coetzee, Tony de Zorzi, Bjorn Fortuin, Kwena Maphaka and Lhuan-dré Pretorius. The Lions’ itinerary features two first-class matches, both won by South Africa, and a reciprocal tour to South Africa is planned for December. The series also includes two warm-up fixtures against South Africa A before the official matches. ## Full England Lions squad and schedule England Lions squad: James Coles, Noah Cornwell, Jordan Cox, Mason Crane, Henry Crocombe, Scott Currie, Caleb Falconer, Eddie Jack, Saqib Mahmood, Ben Mayes, Ben McKinney, Dan Mousley, Matthew Potts, Rehan Ahmed, James Rew, Thomas Rew, Asa Tribe. The fixtures are set for June 5 at Grace Road, Leicester, and June 7 and 9 at New Road, Worcester.