Brydon Carse officially ruled out of Champions Trophy 2025; England announce replacement

In a recent development, England have been hit with a blow in their Champions Trophy 2025 campaign as they lost a key player to injury. Fast bowler Brydon Carse has been ruled out of the remainder of the event due to a toe injury. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) also named his replacement.

Brydon Carse played in the Champions Trophy match against Australia. However, he finished as the most expensive bowler with an economy rate of 9.85. Australia successfully chased down 352 with 15 balls to spare. The Jos Buttler-led team will need to win the remaining two games to advance to the semis.

Brydon Carse Ruled Out of Remainder of Champions Trophy 2025 Due to Injury

The England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed that Brydon Carse will return to London for further medical assessment after being ruled out of the Champions Trophy due to a toe injury. This injury concern started during England’s recent white-ball series in India, forcing him to miss the final two ODIs.

"England fast bowler Brydon Carse will return home this week to continue his recovery from a toe injury. Durham and England bowling all-rounder Brydon Carse has been ruled out for the remainder of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy due to a left toe injury," ECB wrote in a statement.

"Carse sustained the injury during England’s opening Group B match against Australia on Saturday in Lahore. Leicestershire leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed has been named as his replacement and will join the squad in Pakistan later this week," the Board added.

Carse Replaced by Rehan Ahmed in the Champions Trophy Squad

To replace Carse, England have added 20-year-old leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed to their squad. However, Ahmed will not arrive in Pakistan in time for the crucial match against Afghanistan on February 26.

Ahmed, who last played an ODI nearly 15 months ago, has taken 10 wickets in six ODIs, including a four-wicket haul against Ireland. He also made headlines in 2022 when he claimed a five-wicket haul on his Test debut in Pakistan.

England Likely to Include Jamie Overton as a Like-for-Like Replacement in XI

England are likely to include Jamie Overton as a like-for-like replacement for Brydon Carse in their must-win clash against Afghanistan. Overton, who has been part of the squad as a backup, could strengthen the pace attack alongside Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson.

England must find the right bowling combination to tackle Afghanistan. Both teams have had a tough start to the tournament, losing their opening matches. Australia pulled off a record-breaking chase to defeat England by five wickets in Lahore, while South Africa crushed Afghanistan by 107 runs in Karachi.

England and Afghanistan have met three times in ODIs, with their most recent encounter in the 2023 World Cup, where Afghanistan stunned England with a 69-run victory.

England's updated squad for Champions Trophy 2025: Philip Salt, Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith (wk), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (c), Liam Livingstone, Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood, Jamie Overton, Saqib Mahmood, Tom Banton, Gus Atkinson

Also read: ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in danger as Pakistan placed on high alert after TERROR ATTACK warning