England’s ICC tournament misery persists as they endured another premature exit, this time from the Champions Trophy 2025. Their hopes of making it to the semifinals were shattered after a gallant Afghanistan team beat them by eight runs in a high-scoring thriller in Lahore. The loss has seen England’s tactics come under widespread criticism, with captain Jos Buttler under increasing pressure to resign.
Jos Buttler, though, has brushed aside any suggestion of rushing into decisions, insisting that a cautious approach must be adopted despite increasing pressure. In pursuit of 326 to win, England came up marginally short, dismissed for 317 off 49.5 overs. The last wicket to be lost was Adil Rashid, who was lost for 5 off 7 deliveries, trying a suicidal lofted shot to long-off.
His short innings at the crease attracted light-hearted yet bitter sarcasm from cricket greats Sunil Gavaskar and Wasim Akram, questioning the strategies of England and joking about Rashid’s ineptitude with the bat.
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Akram, during an appearance on the ‘Dressing Room’ programme, reacted in surprise at Rashid’s record, commenting, “How has Adil Rashid scored 11 first-class hundreds?” Fellow panel member Waqar Younis jokingly told Akram to desist from quoting the stat. “I’m sorry, Rashid, but you did not appear like someone with 11 centuries today,” Wasim Akram joked.
Gavaskar, known for his sharp wit, playfully suggested that England should utilize Rashid differently. “If he bats at No.9, how can he score a hundred? England should make him open the innings,” he remarked, taking a jab at England’s lower-order batting struggles.
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With their campaign in tatters, England will try to rescue some pride when they meet South Africa in their last Group B game on Saturday. But the bigger question of where England go from here, and whether or not a change in leadership is on the horizon, remains unanswered.
