Brydon Carse ruled out of Champions Trophy with toe injury, Rehan Ahmed named replacement

England’s fast-bowling all-rounder Brydon Carse has been ruled out of the remainder of the ICC Champions Trophy due to a left toe injury. The injury, which began as a blister during the recent ODI series against India, required stitches and caused Carse to miss two matches in that series. Despite returning to play in England’s opening match against Australia, where he conceded 69 runs in seven overs, the injury has since worsened, leading to his withdrawal from the tournament.

In response to Carse’s unavailability, England has called up 20-year-old leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed as his replacement. Ahmed, who has played six ODIs and taken 10 wickets, is expected to join the squad in Pakistan later this week. The International Cricket Council has approved this replacement, as confirmed in their official statement.

England’s next fixture is a crucial Group B match against Afghanistan on Wednesday at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Following their opening loss to Australia, England must secure a victory to keep their semi-final hopes alive. The team is considering including tall pacer Jamie Overton in the playing XI to exploit bounce against Afghan batsmen.

Carse’s injury not only impacts England’s current campaign but also raises concerns about his availability for upcoming tournaments, including the Indian Premier League, where he was recently acquired by Sunrisers Hyderabad. Additionally, there are doubts about his fitness for the summer Test series against India and the Ashes series in Australia. England’s management emphasizes the importance of managing player workloads to prevent such injuries, aiming to maintain a balance between nurturing multi-format players and ensuring their well-being.