Brydon Carse has been withdrawn from the England Test squad ahead of the upcoming match against Pakistan following an off-field incident over the weekend. Social media footage emerged showing the 31-year-old fast bowler in handcuffs outside a Derby venue late Saturday evening.

Although law enforcement did not formally arrest the athlete, the England and Wales Cricket Board promptly escalated the matter to the Cricket Regulator. Consequently, officials decided to sideline Carse while a formal inquiry takes place to establish the complete sequence of events.

The incident unfolded while Carse was participating in domestic competition for Durham following his release from the national setup ahead of the opening Test at Headingley. Following a victory against Derbyshire on Saturday, the player was recorded by bystanders near a local establishment alongside teammate Matthew Potts. Former Test captain Ben Stokes was also observed in the vicinity, though all three individuals remain bound by central board contracts.

This development adds to a mounting series of disciplinary and behavioral concerns for the national squad over recent months. Earlier in the summer, Stokes and teammate Gus Atkinson faced internal scrutiny after being present during an altercation involving security personnel at a London venue. That episode resulted in missed Test action and formal warnings, contributing to heightened scrutiny surrounding player conduct.

Team leadership had previously attempted to address off-field issues by altering squad policies regarding curfews and social outings. Prior to the ongoing series against Pakistan, captain Joe Root publicly emphasized the necessity for athletes to maintain high standards of personal behavior and serve as positive representatives for the sport.

Carse has been an influential figure for the national team since breaking into the Test side in late 2024, claiming a leading tally of wickets across formats during that span. His absence from the squad for the upcoming fixture at Lord's removes a valuable depth option for the bowling attack.

In response to the vacancy, selectors have called up 23-year-old Sonny Baker to fill the spot in the team. Baker previously earned his lone Test cap earlier this year during the home series against New Zealand.

Reporting based on coverage first published by BBC Sport. Read the original report at BBC Sport.