The veteran England pacer, Saqib Mahmood, has been ruled out of the upcoming T20I series against Ireland and the upcoming trip to New Zealand in October, having sustained a knee injury. The 28-year-old, who featured in the second ODI against South Africa at Lord’s earlier this month, went wicketless in their five-run defeat before taking no part in the ongoing T20I series against the same opponents.

In a statement, the England Cricket Board has revealed that Mahmood would undergo minor knee surgery to get the issue addressed. He missed two years of action with a stress fracture. His place will be taken by the Hampshire seamer, Scott Currie.

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In the recent appearance of Mahmood, he picked up nine wickets at 10.55 during their T20I tour of the Caribbean in November last year, while getting a vital role in the 3-0 ODI series win over the same opponents in June. He was also part of The Hundred 2025 winning campaign of the Oval Invincibles, claiming the final wicket of the edition against the Trent Rockets.

Scott Currie replaces Saqib Mahmood for the upcoming Ireland T20I series

The 24-year-old bowler comes 18 months after he featured in the three 50-over games for Scotland in the World Cricket League Division 2 in Dubai. But the side’s failure to qualify in the winter’s T20 World Cup would appear to have ended his wish to be part of the side of his father’s birth. Currie has picked up 91 wickets in 65 T20s at an economy rate of 8.60.

“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.” Currie revealed during a recent interaction on ESPNcricinfo.

“Everyone's favorite word at the moment is the schedule, but it's tough with the way the schedule is to find those opportunities. Unfortunately, they didn't qualify for the T20 World Cup coming this winter. But yeah, I do remain in contact with them.” He revealed in the same discussion. The T20I series will begin on September 17at Malahide.