England crash out after Afghanistan's historic win; Buttler holds off on captaincy call
Lahore [Pakistan], February 27: England captain Jos Buttler has held back from making any "emotional decisions" about his future as skipper after his side crashed out of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 following a narrow eight-run defeat to Afghanistan at Gaddafi Stadium.
This latest defeat marks England’s fifth consecutive ODI loss under Buttler’s leadership, adding further scrutiny to his role. However, speaking after the match, Buttler refrained from confirming any decision about stepping down.
"I don’t want to make any emotional decisions. But I think for myself and the other guys at the top, we should consider all possibilities," Buttler said in the post-match presentation.
Afghanistan Stun England as Zadran Shines
England’s must-win encounter turned into a historic night for Afghanistan, as Ibrahim Zadran smashed a record-breaking 177 off 146 balls, the highest individual score in Champions Trophy history. His blistering innings powered Afghanistan to 325/7, putting England under immense pressure.
While England looked to be in control at various stages of the chase, Joe Root (120 off 111) fought a lone battle with little support from his teammates. In the end, the pressure of a steep target and a faltering middle-order saw England fall short by eight runs, ending their campaign in the group stage.
"Disappointing to be knocked out early. We had our chances but didn’t take them. The last 10 overs got away from us. Credit to Ibrahim, he played a fantastic innings," Buttler added.
Mark Wood Injury Adds to England’s Woes
England’s night got worse as pace spearhead Mark Wood suffered a knee injury during his fourth over. Despite clear discomfort, Wood showed resilience and bowled four more overs before walking off the field in the 43rd over.
"Unfortunately, in his fourth over, he felt his knee. Credit to him for bowling through the pain. It was difficult managing the death overs without him," Buttler said.
England had to turn to part-time bowlers Joe Root and Liam Livingstone to fill the gaps, which allowed Afghanistan to pile on 113 runs in the final 10 overs.
Root’s Heroics Not Enough
Despite a magnificent 120 from Root, England’s batting collapsed under pressure. Buttler acknowledged the lack of top-order support for Root, emphasizing how crucial it was for one of the top six batters to step up.
"Root played an unbelievable innings. He has been a brilliant player in all formats, and he showed us the way to handle pressure. But we needed someone to stay with him," Buttler admitted.
With England eliminated from the Champions Trophy, questions over Buttler’s leadership and England’s white-ball future continue to mount.
Tags: Jos Buttler, England Cricket, ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Ibrahim Zadran, Afghanistan vs England, Joe Root, Mark Wood Injury, England Captaincy, England vs Afghanistan, ICC Cricket
Last Updated on February 27, 2025 by Sandeep
