 Ahmed made his debut two years earlier than Hashim and they played together for a time at the KwaZulu-Natal Dolphins.Amla married Sumaiyah and they have two children, a son born in 2012 and the second in 2013.Upon graduating from Durban High School and impressing on the youth circuit, Amla made his debut for his provincial team, the KwaZulu-Natal Dolphins, soon captaining South Africa at the 2002 Under-19 Cricket World Cup in New Zealand, leading his team to the final.