Carse dropped from England squad after nightclub incident

Brydon Carse has been withdrawn from the second Test against Pakistan, while an incident outside a nightclub is investigated by the Cricket Regulator, in the latest off-field setback for England.

Videos on social media appeared to show fast bowler Carse in handcuffs, being led away by four police officers following an incident at a nightclub in Derby, central England, on Saturday.

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"Following a referral from the ECB, the Cricket Regulator have confirmed that they will investigate events on Saturday night in Derby," the England and Wales Cricket Board said in a statement.

"Brydon Carse will no longer be available for selection for the Second Men’s Rothesay Test Match while this investigation is ongoing and the full facts are obtained."

In the videos Carse was seen talking to Durham team-mate Matthew Potts, with former England captain Ben Stokes also pictured in the background.

Carse has not featured for England in any format since the finish of the Ashes in January, with a hand injury hampering his start to 2026 and forcing him to miss the Indian Premier League.

He was not selected for the first Test last week, which England won by an innings and 103 runs inside three days at Headingley.

It is the latest in a series of alcohol-fuelled controversies that have dogged England since a disastrous tour of New Zealand and Australia at the end of last year.

After white-ball captain Harry Brook was involved in an altercation with a nightclub bouncer in Wellington and videos circulated of England players appearing drunk on nights out during the 4-1 Ashes series thrashing by Australia, a curfew on players going out was introduced in January.

But in June, Stokes and Gus Atkinson were given a written warning and stood down from the second Test against New Zealand after an incident at a London nightclub which came after they broke the curfew.

Stokes subsequently announced his shock retirement from international cricket during the third Test against New Zealand, with Brendon McCullum also axed as the red-ball coach two weeks later.

Joe Root has taken over as England Test captain for a second time but said he would not impose a curfew on players.

"My view on curfews is I don't think they work, and if you want guys to take responsibility on the field they've got to be able to feel they can be grown adults off it and make good strong decisions off it," Root told Sky Sports.