England skipper Jos Buttler refused to make any “emotional statements” about his future as white-ball captain but admitted that “all possibilities” were on the table after his side’s shocking elimination from the Champions Trophy at the hands of Afghanistan on Wednesday.

Despite Joe Root’s fighting century (120), England suffered an 8-run defeat, ending their tournament run prematurely. Chasing 326, England fell short at 317 all out, unable to overcome a brilliant 177 from Ibrahim Zadran and a match-winning five-wicket haul from Azmatullah Omarzai.

“I Don’t Want to Say Anything Emotional” – Buttler on His Captaincy

Speaking after the game, Buttler acknowledged the disappointment but remained non-committal about his future as captain.

"I don’t want to say any emotional statements right now. But I think for myself and the other guys at the top, we should consider all possibilities."

This marks England’s third consecutive ICC tournament failure under Buttler’s leadership, following the disastrous 2023 ODI World Cup campaign in India and an early exit in the 2024 T20 World Cup in the Americas.

England’s struggles against Afghanistan are not new either—they had suffered a 69-run defeat to them in the 2023 ODI World Cup group stage in Delhi.

"We Had Our Chances, But They Got Away in the Last 10 Overs"

Buttler admitted that England had opportunities to close out the game, but Afghanistan’s onslaught in the final 10 overs made the target difficult.

“It’s really disappointing. I thought we had our chances in the game. Another fantastic game of cricket, but disappointing to come out on the wrong side.”

Afghanistan added a staggering 113 runs in the final 10 overs, which Buttler acknowledged as the turning point.

“They got away from us there in the last 10 overs. Credit to Ibrahim (Zadran), he played a fantastic innings. If we look back and reflect, 113 off the last 10 pushed them up to a score that was a very good score on that pitch.”

"Root Was Outstanding, But He Needed Support"

Buttler praised Joe Root’s century, which kept England in the chase until the final overs.

"He played an unbelievable innings tonight. The way he handled pressure in a run-chase was exceptional. He needed one of the other top six batters to stay in with him and take the game deeper."

England was still in the hunt until the 48th over, when Jamie Overton (32 off 28 balls), who was playing an explosive cameo, was dismissed, effectively ending their chances.

"We Are Improving Day by Day" – Afghanistan Captain Shahidi

For Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, the win was another milestone in the team’s growth on the world stage.

“As a team, we are happy, and I’m sure the whole nation will be happy with this win. The first time we beat them was in the 2023 World Cup. I keep saying that we are improving day by day as a team, and that’s what we’ve shown in the last couple of world cups.”

Shahidi, who shared a 103-run stand with Zadran, was full of praise for his opener’s incredible innings.

"When we were three down at the beginning, it was too much pressure. But the partnership between me and Ibrahim was special. I think it was one of the best ODI innings I have ever seen."

Shahidi emphasized the balance of experience and youth in the Afghan squad as a key factor in their progress.

"The beauty of our team is we have talented youngsters and, at the same time, we have senior guys who are at the top level. Everyone knows their own roles in this team. Hopefully, we take this momentum with us for the next game against Australia."

What’s Next?

With England officially out, their final group game against South Africa is now meaningless. Meanwhile, Afghanistan must beat Australia in their last match to keep their quarterfinal hopes alive.

For Buttler and England, serious questions remain—about the captaincy, team selection, and their approach to global tournaments.

As for Afghanistan, their fairytale run continues. Can they pull off another upset and book a place in the last eight? The cricket world will be watching.