LONDON, Dec 22, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - England Test captain Ben Stokes has been 
ruled out of next year's Champions Trophy one-day international tournament in 
Pakistan and the preceding white-ball tour of India, team management 
announced Sunday.

The star all-rounder was not considered for either assignment after suffering 
a left hamstring injury during England's defeat by New Zealand in the third 
Test at Hamilton earlier this month.

Stokes did not bat in the second innings of that match in a bid to prevent 
further damage as England slumped to a colossal 423-run defeat -- a result 
that meant his side still won a three-match series 2-1.

With England facing a five-match Test series at home to India starting in 
June before their pinnacle 2025/26 Ashes tour of Australia, team management 
have decided against risking inspirational red-ball skipper Stokes in the 
Champions Trophy.

But key batsman Joe Root, who preceded close friend Stokes as Test captain, 
returns to the ODI side for the first time since the 2023 World Cup in India.

Fast bowler Mark Wood, who missed the recent Test tours of both Pakistan and 
New Zealand, due to a bone-stress injury to his right elbow, is in both 
squads.

The India series and Champions Trophy will mark England's first limited-overs 
tour and tournament under coach Brendon McCullum, previously just in charge 
of the Test side.
- Buttler stays as captain -

Jos Buttler has retained the captaincy of the two white-ball teams despite 
England surrendering both their 50-over and T20 world titles since November 
2023.

But it is possible the dashing batsman may not keep wicket, as he has for 
much of his limited-overs career.

Both the ODI squad for the India tour and the Champions Trophy, as well as 
the squad for five T20s in India in January, feature two other wicketkeepers 
in Test gloveman Jamie Smith, who missed the New Zealand series to attend the 
birth of his first child, and Phil Salt.

Meanwhile, 21-year-old rising star Jacob Bethell, who marked his debut Test 
series with three fifties in New Zealand, is included in both squads.

Leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed joins the T20 squad, while Root is selected only for 
the ODIs.

The tour party leaves for India on January 17, with the first match of a 
five-game series against T20 world champions India in Kolkata on January 22.

India and England will then play a three-match ODI series, in preparation for 
the Champions Trophy, starting in Nagpur on February 6.

Match dates for the Champions Trophy, which also features Pakistan as well as 
Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, have yet to 
be announced, with the tournament due to run from February 19 to March 9.

England ODI squad for India tour and 2025 Champions Trophy in Pakistan:

Jos Buttler (capt/wkt), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Harry 
Brook, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Jamie Smith (wkt), Liam 
Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Saqib Mahmood, Phil Salt (wkt), Mark Wood

England T20 squad for India tour:

Jos Buttler (capt/wkt), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob 
Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Jamie Smith 
(wkt), Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Saqib Mahmood, Phil Salt (wkt), Mark 
Wood