Sean dickson

World Cricket League Division: England seamer Saqib Mahmood has been sidelined with a knee injury and will miss both the upcoming T20I series against Ireland next week and the white-ball tour of New Zealand in October. His spot in the Ireland squad has been handed to Hampshire and Scotland fast bowler Scott Currie.

Mahmood featured in the second ODI against South Africa at Lord’s earlier this month but went wicketless in England’s narrow five-run defeat. He did not play in either of the opening two T20Is in the ongoing series. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed that the pacer will undergo minor surgery on his knee to fix the issue. It marks another frustrating setback for Mahmood, who had previously missed nearly two years due to back stress fractures, although he had shown encouraging form since returning.

In the past year, Mahmood impressed with nine wickets at 10.55 during England’s T20I series in the Caribbean, and played a key role in the 3-0 ODI sweep of the same opponents in June. Most recently, he was part of the Oval Invincibles’ third consecutive Hundred title, taking the final wicket in the tournament decider against Trent Rockets.