Saqib Mahmood ruled out for Ireland, New Zealand series with knee injury, Scott Currie earns maiden call-up

Saqib Mahmood has been ruled out of England's upcoming three-match T20 international series against Ireland and the subsequent white-ball assignment against New Zealand due to a knee injury. Scott Currie has been named as Mahmood's replacement in squads for both the series.

Mahmood was included in the English squad for the limited-overs series against South Africa. He played only the second ODI of the three-match series and did not take part in any of the two T20Is which have been played up until now.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed that the right-arm pacer will undergo “minor knee surgery” to rectify the issue. This is the latest setback for him, but he will hope it's not a major one, as the speedster had missed nearly two years of cricketing action due to successive stress fractures in the back earlier.

The 24-year-old Currie played three ODIs for Scotland 18 months prior to his call-up in the World Cricket League Division 2 in Dubai. He spoke on his thought process behind not missing out on international cricket. He also spoke on how he felt representing Scotland alongside his brother Brad Currie.

"There's plenty of experience to be had out there. I've obviously got [the possibility] that you can flip between the two, and if an England cap ever came then that would be a massive honour. But certainly, the pride of representing Scotland in those three games that I did, taking the field with my brother [Brad], knowing what it means to my old man and his side of the family, is something that always puts a smile on my face. Unfortunately, they didn't qualify for the T20 World Cup coming this winter. But yeah, I do remain in contact with them," stated Currie, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

England will play three T20Is against Ireland at Malahide on September 17, 19 and 21. With several multi-format players missing, they will be led by Jacob Bethell, a first-time international captain. The series against New Zealand will commence on October 18, the squad for which is yet to be announced, but is expected to be led by Harry Brook.