Karachi, February 28, 2025: In a major development ahead of England’s final group-stage match in the Champions Trophy, Jos Buttler has announced his resignation as captain, bringing an end to his tenure following the team’s disappointing campaign.
England, who entered the tournament with high expectations, became the first team from Group B to be eliminated after suffering back-to-back defeats against Australia and Afghanistan. The losses marked another setback for Buttler, whose leadership has come under increasing scrutiny in recent months.
Speaking to reporters, Buttler acknowledged that England’s poor form under his captaincy played a key role in his decision to step down.
“I’m going to stand down as England captain. It’s the right decision for me, and it’s the right decision for the team,” he stated.
He emphasized the need for fresh leadership, suggesting that a new captain working closely with head coach Brendon McCullum could help restore England’s standing in international cricket.
“This tournament was crucial for my captaincy, and after two losses that led to our early exit—along with previous struggles—I’ve reached the end of the road as captain. It’s disappointing, and I’m sad about it,” he admitted.
Since taking over as captain, Buttler led England in 44 ODIs, winning 18 but losing 25. While he guided the team to their second T20 World Cup title in 2022, his tenure has been marred by three major tournament setbacks, including the team’s failure to defend their ODI World Cup title in 2023.
England’s 2025 Champions Trophy campaign started on a promising note when they posted a record-breaking 351/8 in their opening match against Australia—the highest total in the tournament’s history. Ben Duckett led the charge with a stunning 165 off 143 balls, but England’s bowlers failed to defend the total.
Needing a win in their second match, England suffered a shock defeat against Afghanistan at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Batting first, Afghanistan set a formidable 325/7, with Ibrahim Zadran’s masterclass of 177 off 146 deliveries (12 fours, 6 sixes)
In response, Joe Root’s valiant 120 kept England in the chase, but a five-wicket haul by Azmatullah Omarzai saw them fall eight runs short, crashing out of the tournament.
