Leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed will become the youngest man to play Test cricket for England after making his debut in the third Test against Pakistan.
The 18-year-old beats legendary Yorkshire batsman Brian Close’s record, which has stood since 1949.
Ahmed and wicketkeeper Ben Foakes enter the squad in Karachi in place of pace setter James Anderson and all-rounder Will Jacks.
England have already won the series and are looking for a 3-0 sweep.
No visiting team has ever beaten Pakistan 3-0 at home, while England have won just three hits in an away Test series of three or more matches.
Ahmed from Leicestershire will be 18 years and 126 days old when the test begins on Saturday. Former captain Close was 18 years and 149 days old when he played against New Zealand at Old Trafford 73 years ago.
He was named in the England squad despite leaving training early on Friday because he was unwell.
Ahmed won’t be the youngest person to play a Test for England – left-arm spinner Holly Colvin was 15 years and 336 days old when she played for the women’s side against Australia in 2005.
The Leicestershire man played just three first-class matches, taking nine wickets at an average of 30. He was part of the England squad that reached the Under-19 World Cup final this year and played for the England Lions against the South on tour. Africans in the summer at home.
He was then named in the England Lions squad for a training camp in the United Arab Emirates and was added to the full squad during a warm-up match in Abu Dhabi in November.
Ahmed adds a second frontline spin-bowling option to the Tourists’ XI at a Karachi court that is expected to rotate.
He considers himself a hitter and had a century at bat at number five for Leicestershire against Derbyshire in his last Premier Class game in September.
Meanwhile, former Pakistani captain Azhar Ali has announced he will withdraw from Test cricket after the final match of the series.
Azhar, 37, played 96 Tests, scoring 7,097 runs – only four Pakistani batters have scored more.
