Joe Root ruled out of World T20 with broken thumb; Ian Bell named replacement for England

Joe Root (Right) and Ian Bell (Left).

England batsman Joe Root has been officially ruled out of the upcoming World T20 tournament after fracturing his thumb during their match against West Indies last week, and Ian Bell has been called up as his replacement.

The 23-year old took to Twitter to express his disappointment:

Bitterly disappointed I'm unable to make the World Cup! Want to wish the boys the best of luck and have every confidence in the whole squad.

— Joe Root (@joeroot05) March 10, 2014

According to ESPN Cricinfo, Root who plays for the Yorkshire County Cricket Club had his thumb ripped into eight pieces, x-ray examinations revealed.

Root has returned to England to see a specialist, and the date of his return has not been estimated yet.

Root will be replaced by Ian Bell, and his inclusion to the squad has now been granted approval by the ICC.

“The ICC has confirmed that the Event Technical Committee of the ICC World Twenty20 Bangladesh 2014 has approved Ian Bell as a replacement player for Joe Root in the England men’s squad for the tournament that will be staged in Bangladesh from 16 March to 6 April,” a statement released by the ICC read.

Bell has just played 7 T20 matches in his career with an average of just below 30. Moreover, Bell has not played in any T20 match for the last three years.

England are already facing an uphill task regarding their most skipper Stuart Broad, who is also the most experienced T20 player in the side. Broad will be sitting out of the remainder of the T20s against West Indies to give rest to his injured knee and faces a race against time to get fit for World T20.

The World T20 begins on March 16 in Bangladesh, and England will be facing New Zealand in their first match on March 22.