Out-of-favour India opener K L Rahul was back amongst the runs, hitting an unbeaten half-century to steer India 'A' to 219 for one on day two of the first unofficial Test against England Lions.
But Stokes then introduced Ahmed in the afternoon session and the youngster ripped apart Pakistan's middle order.
Josh Tongue picked up a five-wicket haul as England handed Ireland a crushing defeat in the one-off Test at the Lord's.
No team is assured of a semifinal berth and England will need to defeat USA by either 10 runs or at least an over to spare to stay in contention for the semifinals.
Images from Day 1 of the fifth and final Ashes Test between England and Australia at The Oval in London on Thursday.
England captain Ben Stokes on Saturday said staying true to the 'Bazball' approach did not work and conceded that India were too good in their own conditions, always finding a way to wriggle out of tight curves.
India will be looking for another favorable result to extend their lead in the World Test Championships standings.
England lost opener Zak Crawley but held firm in the final hour of a pulsating day four in the second Test against New Zealand.
'I love playing here at Lord's. It's a nice place to play if you get in, you get good value for your shots and yeah, nice to get myself back up on the honours board again.'
As the prestigious Ashes gets underway, here's a look at the milestones that can be achieved.
The first ODI of the three-match series will be played on July 30 followed by the other two on August 1 and 4.
Images from Day 3 of the second Ashes between England and Australia at Lord's.
Australia's pacemen Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins ripped out England's top order with a masterclass of textbook bowling to put their side in sight of a 2-0 Ashes lead on Saturday.
Abrar Ahmed made a stunning Test debut claiming seven for 114 to bowl out England for 281
Images from Day 1 of the third Ashes Test between England and Australia at Headingley in Leeds on Thursday.
England will be looking to bounce back from a rain-affected opening match and solidify their T20 World Cup campaign
Bangladesh secure a 16-run victory in the final match in Mirpur on Tuesday.
India after taking a 100+ run lead at the end of the first innings in a Home Test: Instances: 106. Won: 70. Drawn: 35. Lost: 1 (vs England, Hyderabad 2024).
McDonald 'disappointed' with McCullum's comment post Bairstow dismissal
After England tore the prediction books for an epochal 28-run victory in Hyderabad in the first Test, India now find themselves in a tight space, mentally and technically, ahead of the second match starting in four days in Visakhapatnam.
The last time England toured India, back in early 2021, Joe Root's team went back home beaten and bruised 3-1.
NZ face WI in virtual knockout, rain threatens to derail England again
Worcestershire bowler Joe Leach claimed a hat-trick with the first three balls of his side's Royal London One-Day Cup match against Northamptonshire on Sunday.
Emotional Tickner returns to NZ squad after cyclone relief efforts
India will need to be ruthless and tactful in equal measure while dealing with an unpredictable England when the third chapter of a riveting Test series begins in Rajkot on Thursday.
KL Rahul will encounter in his road to redemption as he gears up to play for India A in the first unofficial Test.
England were 7-1 at stumps with Ben Duckett (4) and Ollie Pope (3) batting together
Can the subcontinent giants maintain their 12-year invincibility?
Having taken a 78-run lead in the runfest, England declared their second innings on 264-7 to set Pakistan an improbable victory target of 343 with four sessions to go.
For Michael Vaughan, Pep Guardiola is the best sporting leader in the last 15 years and the former England skipper won't mind if Ben Stokes employs Manchester City manager's approach of never allowing players to take their places for granted.
Jonny Bairstow was initially included in the selection but the England and Wales Cricket Board later said he had been ruled out of the rest of the summer and the T20 World Cup after suffering a lower limb injury in a freak accident while playing golf in Leeds on Friday.
'If England are not playing to win then these Ashes Tests are not that important. They are only exhibition matches. They have got it back to front. It is not about entertaining and then winning. It is about winning first.'
Rain threatens high-voltage India-England semi-final clash
India spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Jayant Yadav claimed three wickets apiece in the second innings to lead the hosts to a comfortable 246-run win in the second Test against England on Monday and a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. - Scorecard: England, chasing an improbable victory target of 405, were all out for 158 shortly after lunch on the fifth and final day in the first Test match being played in the port city of Visakhapatnam.
England name nine uncapped players in new squad for series against Pakistan
Hurt India eye sweeping changes in approach against England's 'Bazball' in second Test
Jos Buttler and Dawid Malan struck superb centuries and Jofra Archer took six wickets as a resurgent England secured a 59-run victory over hosts South Africa in the third and final one-day International.
Images from Day 1 of the opening Test between India and England in Rajkot on Wednesday.
England selected an entirely new squad for their limited-overs series against Pakistan after three players and four staff members tested positive for COVID-19.
England's cricketers must take responsibility for their actions and improve their off-field behaviour or risk turning a younger generation of players away from the game, all-rounder Moeen Ali said.
