After England’s defeat vs AFG in Champions Trophy, England legends slam Jos Buttler’s captaincy
England’s unexpected defeat to Afghanistan in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has intensified scrutiny of Jos Buttler’s captaincy. Following the loss, cricket icons Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain have questioned whether Buttler should continue as captain. Afghanistan set a challenging target of 325/7, thanks to Ibrahim Zadran’s 177 off 146 balls, but England fell short, bowled out for 317 in 49.5 overs.
Atherton suggested it might be time for Buttler to step down, arguing that a change could benefit both him and the team. Hussain echoed similar sentiments, stating that Buttler lacks the leadership presence of predecessors like Eoin Morgan and that captaincy has detracted from his batting.
Despite the criticism, Buttler remains committed to leading the team. England’s early exit leaves Australia, South Africa, and Afghanistan competing for semi-final spots in Group B. Afghanistan must beat Australia to advance, while an Australian win would secure South Africa’s semi-final place. The pressure on Buttler’s leadership will continue as England reflects on their underwhelming performance in the tournament.