'Am I Part Of The Problem Or Solution?' Buttler Questions After Afghanistan Defeat

England succumbed to yet another defeat at the hands of Afghanistan in an ICC event on February 26 (Wednesday), in Lahore. After a loss in the ODI World Cup in Delhi in 2023, this closely fought defeat in Rawalpindi knocked them out of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. 

Jos Buttler has been under the pump over the last couple of years. After England tasted success in the 2019 World Cup and then the 2022 T20 World Cup, things have been on a downward spiral for them. They recently appointed Brendon McCullum as white-ball head coach to infuse some energy into the team, but England have lost four out of five T20Is and all five ODIs under him.

Time for some soul searching? Buttler feels so but, at the same time, does not want to take any emotional decisions at this time. "Yeah, I think obviously the results aren't where they need to be and I personally need to consider all possibilities," Buttler said at the post-match press conference. 

"And like I said, obviously, we need to get us as a team back to where England cricket needs to be in the white ball formats. And I think I've got to work out personally: am I part of the problem, or am I part of the solution?

"I'm not going to make any emotional decisions right here, right now. You're probably not the first people I'd discuss that with. And take a little bit of time to just work out personally what I think is right. 

"And obviously, the guys at the top are in charge, and they will have their own views as well - so as I said, we need to get the team back to where it needs to be - competing for winning these tournaments."

Buttler has not been in the best of form lately and says he is disappointed that he has not been able to deliver for his side with the bat.

"I just missed a few balls early in my innings and then got myself to nearly run a ball - 38 or whatever I got out for," Buttler said of his innings against Afghanistan.

"So, I got myself into a nice position again. And I just haven't been converting those positions in the recent past into some of the innings that I've played in an England shirt in the past. 

"And that's obviously a frustration. And as I said, I think at my best I'm one of the best players in the world and that's what the team needs from me and unfortunately haven't been delivering that."

While there have been questions raised over his captaincy, Buttler says that he enjoys leading the side. "It's had its moments for sure. I know lots of people think it doesn't sit well with me being captain and that kind of thing, but I really do enjoy it," he said. 

"I enjoy leading. Even before, when I wasn't captain, I'd like to think of myself as a leader in the team. But, results are tough and they weigh heavy at times. And, of course, you want to be leading a winning team, and we haven't been that for a while now, so obviously that brings some difficult moments."

England will hope to end their Champions Trophy campaign on a high with a win over South Africa in their final game of the competition on March 1 (Saturday).