Champions Trophy 2025: In the eighth match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Afghanistan made a big upset by defeating England by 8 runs. The match was played at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, where England's humiliating defeat shocked the cricket world. After this defeat, serious questions have been raised on the captaincy of English captain Jos Buttler.
England's performance under Butler's captaincyUnder the leadership of Jos Buttler, England won the T20 World Cup title in 2022, but after that the team's performance was disappointing. England finished seventh in the 2023 ODI World Cup, while the team reached the top 4 in the 2024 T20 World Cup. Now in the 2025 Champions Trophy as well, England is on the verge of being out of the semi-final race.
Butler's statement after defeatWhen Butler was questioned about his captaincy in the post-match press conference, he did not give any clear answer. He said, "We need to evaluate our performance. This result was not up to our expectations. We have to see how to take the team in the right direction."
He further said that he would not take any emotional decision on leaving the captaincy. Whenever he takes any decision, he will first inform the media about it. He also admitted that he needs to consider whether he is part of the problem or the solution for the team.
Increasing pressure on the English captainUnder Butler's captaincy, England has consistently failed in major tournaments. Experts and former cricketers have questioned his leadership. The England Cricket Board (ECB) may also consider his future.
Butler said, "I enjoy captaincy and always try to lead for the team. But every captain wants to lead a winning team, and I have not been successful in doing so in recent times."
Now it will be interesting to see what decision the England Cricket Board and Butler himself take regarding his captaincy. Will England be able to regain its lost glory or will there be a need for a change in leadership? Cricket lovers are keeping an eye on this.