According to England’s white-ball captain Jos Buttler, 21-year-old Jacob Bethell has been ruled out of the Champions Trophy, which starts on February 19 in Karachi.
Star English batter Jacob Bethell is all set to miss the 2025 edition of the ICC Champions Trophy. The 21-year-old right-handed batter, who has 218 runs to his name in nine 50-over matches played so far, has been ruled out of the eight-team tournament in Pakistan due to a hamstring injury that he suffered during the first India-England ODI at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur on Thursday, February 6.
Bethell came out to bat at No. 6 for England in the series opener, and with the help of three fours and one six, scored 51 runs from 64 balls. He also bowled three overs and picked up Shreyas Iyer’s wicket.
While speaking to reporters on Sunday, after England’s four-wicket defeat in the second ODI against India at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack, England’s white-ball captain Jos Buttler confirmed the news.
“I’m pretty sure (Bethell) has been ruled out of the Champions Trophy, to be honest. That’s disappointing for him. He played nicely the other day and has been one of the really exciting players. It’s a shame that injury is going to rule him out,” Buttler said. England have not made an official statement on Bethell’s status, but they called up Somerset batsman Tom Banton on Sunday as cover.
26-year-old Banton has played six ODIs and 14 T20Is for England. But his last appearance for England in the 50-over format of the game was against Ireland in Southampton on August 4, 2020. Banton played for MI Emirates in the recently concluded ILT20, scoring 493 runs in 11 matches for the Nicholas Pooran-led side.
