Sunrisers Hyderabad's INR 13 Crore buy in IPL 2026 Auction, Liam Livingstone's exclusion from the England squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 has led to many queries among fans and ex-players alike. Once thought to be a cog in England's white-ball plans, Livingstone is now missing out at a crucial time. His absence also highlights the changing landscape of England's T20 setup as the team tries to create a balance with clear role identification and long-term planning toward the global event. Loss of Role and Rising Competition A major reason for Livingstone's omission is diminishing his role in England's recent white-ball cricket. For the last one year, he has not been a regular pick with other players being given more chances to settle in the team. The longer he was on the bench, the more difficult it became for him to secure a fixed position for himself, let alone a role within the side. Middle-order options have become better with the introduction of Phil Salt, Will Jacks, Jacob Bethell, and Ben Duckett. All of these players have demonstrated versatility with the bat and have further clarity in their roles. Fit more into England's scheme, particularly given conditions expected in the T20 World Cup. It is a matter of strong competition for Livingstone, operating as a power-hitting all-rounder. Also Read | Explained: Why BPL Matches Were Postponed on December 30 Form, Selection Strategy, and Final Squad Call Another disruption for Livingstone was the kind of unclear message surrounding England's desired use for him. Roles of finisher, floating batter, and part-time spinner had all been applied to him without any being set in stone as his role. In contrast, the selected squad shows players with inflexible and defined roles acceptable to England's management in high-stakes tournaments. In what seems a contrast to the previous regimes, the selectors seem focused on building a fairly stable and settled team rather than depending on isolated individual brilliance. With Harry Brook notified as captain and old heads like Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, and Adil Rashid in the squad, England have reflected youth, experience, and certainty of role. England's T20 World Cup 2026 Squad: Harry Brook (Captain), Jos Buttler, Jofra Archer, Sam Curran, Adil Rashid, Chris Woakes, Phil Salt, Will Jacks, Ben Duckett, Rehan Ahmed, Liam Dawson, Jamie Overton, Josh Tongue, Luke Wood, and Jacob Bethell.