England crashed out of the Champion Trophy after a shocking defeat to Afghanistan, leaving Buttler’s captaincy hanging by a thread

England’s white-ball cricket dynasty has crumbled. In a stunning turn of events, Jos Buttler’s side crashed out of the Champions Trophy, their fate sealed by a humiliating eight-run loss to Afghanistan. This latest disaster marks England’s ninth defeat in ten white-ball matches this year, intensifying scrutiny over Buttler’s leadership.

The writing has been on the wall. Since lifting the 2022 T20 World Cup, England’s performances have nosedived. Their 2023 ODI World Cup defence was an unmitigated disaster, with six losses in nine games. The 2024 T20 World Cup offered little redemption, ending in a humiliating semi-final thrashing by India. Now, back-to-back defeats to Australia and Afghanistan have left them eliminated with a group game still to play.

Buttler’s Future in Doubt

Speaking after the latest debacle, Buttler cut a dejected figure, admitting he would “consider all possibilities” regarding his captaincy. The pressure has been building for months. After last year’s T20 World Cup failure, head coach Matthew Mott was sacked—now, many believe Buttler should follow.

“I enjoy leading, but when results aren’t going your way, you have to look in the mirror and ask, ‘Am I part of the problem or the solution?’” Buttler confessed. He acknowledged his future might not be in his own hands, with England’s top brass likely to make their own judgment in the coming weeks.

The loss to Afghanistan epitomised England’s decline. Chasing 326 on a flat Lahore pitch, Joe Root fought bravely, striking his first ODI century since 2019. But as England approached the finish line, nerves kicked in. Buttler, who had looked in control alongside Root, fell for 38 at a critical juncture, exposing England’s fragile middle order. The team crumbled under pressure, failing to chase a target that a confident side would have reached with ease.

A Team in Freefall

England’s struggles go beyond captaincy woes. Buttler himself has been in wretched ODI form, averaging just 22.00 since the start of the 2023 World Cup. His dismissal against Afghanistan proved decisive, and he acknowledged his poor run of form.

“I know when I’m at my best, I’m one of the best players in the world. Right now, I’m not performing at that level, and that’s frustrating,” he admitted.

With Harry Brook, Phil Salt, and Liam Livingstone leading the side in Buttler’s absence, England already has potential successors lined up. Whether the selectors will wield the axe remains to be seen, but the question now is not if England will make changes—it’s how brutal those changes will be.

England’s next white-ball assignment is a tour of the West Indies in June. Whether Buttler will still be captain by then is anyone’s guess.