Buttler to decide on captaincy future in coming weeks

Jos Buttler says he will consider his future as England white-ball captain in the next few weeks as he attempts to work out if he is "part of the problem or the solution" following his side's group-stage exit from the Champions Trophy.

England suffered an eight-run defeat by Afghanistan in Lahore to be eliminated from the tournament at the earliest opportunity.

It is England's third successive disappointment in white-ball tournaments under Buttler's captaincy, after the 50-over World Cup in 2023 and the T20 version last year.

"We need to consider all possibilities and get English cricket back to where we should be in white-ball cricket," said Buttler, 34, after the match.

"Personally I need to work out, am I part of the problem or the solution?

"I'm not going to make any emotional decisions right here, right now. I'll take some time to work that out personally and the guys in charge will have their own views, too."

England came into the Champions Trophy off the back of a one-sided series defeat by India, and have now lost 12 of their last 16 one-day internationals.

Buttler said before the match against Afghanistan he was aware his future might be on the line but despite the result, insisted he still enjoyed the role.

"It's had its moments," he said of the captaincy.

"I know lots of people think it doesn't sit well with me being captain but I enjoy leading. It weighs heavy at times, and we want to be a winning team."

Asked about his form with the bat - Buttler only has two ODI half-centuries since September 2023 - the captain said: "If I knew, I wouldn't be playing the way I am. I don't feel far way, it's disappointing when you're not reaching the level of the best in the world."

England's final group game of the Champions Trophy is against South Africa on Saturday. After that, their next white-ball assignment is a home series against West Indies which begins on 29 May.

Since winning the World Cup in 2019, they have lost more ODIs (34) than they have won (29). Under Buttler, who replaced World Cup-winning skipper Eoin Morgan in 2021, they have won 14 of 38 ODIs.

Brendon McCullum replaced Matthew Mott as head coach at the turn of the year and backed Buttler as captain, suggesting the skipper could have his "best years ahead of him" for England.

However, following the Afghanistan loss, the BBC's chief cricket commentator Jonathan Agnew suggested Buttler could return to his best in England's batting ranks if he was freed of leadership.

"It feels inevitable that England will have to look elsewhere for captaincy," Agnew told BBC Test Match Special.

"It might be freeing for Jos Buttler, to find some form without it. He is a better player without it and he can go back to being the destructive batsman he is."