But Stokes then introduced Ahmed in the afternoon session and the youngster ripped apart Pakistan's middle order.
Josh Hazlewood, who was released by RCB, has been bracketed in the top-of-the-line Rs 2 crore base price in Tuesday's IPL auction.
Joe Root returned to England's one-day international squad for the first time since their ill-fated World Cup title defence in November
Defeat will severely dent both the teams' dreams of a semi-final berth in the tournament, as South Africa and Australia have already notched two points.
Mahmood has played two Tests, 9 ODIs and 18 T20s for England.
Saud Shakeel's crafty 134 fetched Pakistan a handy first-innings lead before their spinners blew away England's top order to boost their hopes of a memorable series victory on day two of the deciding third Test in Rawalpindi on Friday.
British media reports said all 10 English players involved with the IPL will hold a meeting with the Professional Cricketers' Association over security arrangements for a potential return to India.
Harry Brook could be in contention to replace Ollie Pope as Ben Stokes' deputy when England travel to Australia this winter.
Earlier, Mukesh bowled with venom, taking three wickets to help India crawl back into the contest as England Lions stumbled to 333 for five at lunch on Day 3.
England on Monday named four specialist spinners, including the uncapped duo of Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir, in the 16-member squad for next month's five-Test series in India.
Mike Atherton feels India's spinners will win it for them
India will look to extend lead against England
With Stokes and Brendon McCullum at the helm, Ahmed cuts a relaxed figure.
'I wanted to convert the loose balls, and play till the end.'
IMAGES from Day 2 of the 1st Test played between India and England in Hyderabad, on Friday.
Jos Buttler will captain the team for the Caribbean tour, with Gus Atkinson, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Curran and Liam Livingstone featuring in the ODI group from the showpiece event.
The cleric's arrest on Saturday prompted administrations in neighbouring districts to go on high alert.
Pakistan beat England by nine wickets in the deciding third Test to win the series 2-1 in Rawalpindi on Saturday.
England Cricket Board (ECB) on Wednesday named the playing eleven for the third Test match against India in Rajkot, with pacer Mark Wood replacing Shoaib Bashir in the playing squad.
Images from Day 3 of the second Test between India and England in Visakhapatnam on Sunday.
In a major crackdown, police arrested 39 people, including local cleric Tauqeer Raza Khan, in connection with the violence during the 'I love Muhammad' campaign after Friday prayers in Bareilly, while authorities suspended internet service in the district for 48 hours beginning Saturday.
With the three-match Test series poised at 1-1 and the decisive third match, beginning here from Thursday, both the teams seemed to be unclear about the pitch's nature.
IMAGES from Day 1 of the 2nd Test played between India and England in Visakhapatnam, on Friday
Rohit Sharma's 11th Test century -- 131 from 196 balls -- was laced with 14 fours and three sixes. He played a crucial role in India's recovery putting on 204 runs for the fourth wicket with Ravindra Jadeja.
He also had encouraging words for young leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed, who picked up only two wickets in Hyderabad.
With an unprecedented 3-0 Test series whitewash on home soil, 'Master Blaster' Sachin Tendulkar stepped forward and admitted that maybe it is time for India to have an "introspection."
Siraj's stellar performance in England's first innings, where he claimed 4/84 in 21.5 overs, played a crucial role in India gaining a vital lead.
As the battle for semi-final berths intensifies in Group B, top-ranked South Africa will aim to assert their dominance and secure a spot in the final four when they face a struggling England in a high-stakes Champions Trophy clash in Karachi on Saturday.
Opener Ben Duckett smashed an 88-ball hundred to lead England's robust reply to India's first innings total of 445 on day two of the third Test in Rajkot on Friday.
Sanju Samson's technical weaknesses against express pace along with Rinku Singh's dip in form and fitness issues will be a concern for India
Yashasvi Jaiswal smashed a rapid hundred before retiring hurt as India stretched their overall lead to 322 with eight wickets in hand to take control of the third Test.
'The wicket was good to bat on, a lot of the batters got starts but didn't convert. This win gives us a lot of confidence. Very proud of such a young squad.'
Rohit Sharma, India's captain, acknowledged the dry pitch and the team's readiness for the challenge.
The series already in their pocket, India will look to address their batting woes against an England team gunning for revenge after feeling hard-done by a debatable concussion substitute when the two teams clash in the fifth and final T20 International in Mumbai on Sunday.
Since Suryakumar took over as captain last year, India have hardly put a wrong but his own form has dipped.
India were handed a five-run penalty for a second offence of their batters running on the middle of the pitch during Day 2 of the the third Test.
A day before their return to India, England were dealt a blow with their frontline spinner Jack Leach ruled out of the remaining three Tests with a knee injury.
'Looking at them, five or six Tests between them, to bowl the way they did yesterday without Joe -- what they produced was incredible.'
The IPL 2024 auction, set to take place in Dubai at the Coca-Cola Arena on Tuesday, marks a historic moment as it becomes the first instance of an IPL auction being conducted overseas.
Since embracing Bazball, England are yet to lose a Test series, while India remain unbeaten at home since 2012-13.
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