The 2025 ICC Championship trophy in Lahore caused another amazing frustration as Afghanistan packed England with an unsettling eight-shot victory. The result not only ended England’s title, but also revealed the cracks in its white ball setup, leading to a heated discussion and a series of reactions from players, experts and fans.
England collapses under pressure from Lahore
England’s campaign collapsed at the iconic Gaddafi Stadium, and Afghanistan demonstrated its defensive abilities and skills to defend the challenging 325/7. This historic victory kept Afghanistan’s semi-final aspirations while forcing England to reach the early exits of the championship – a situation that few would predict before the game began.
The hero of Afghanistan that night was Ibrahim Zadran, who played in one game at this age. The 146 ball bubbles set the tone for the team’s impressive total. In Afghanistan (41) and Gulbadin Naib (40), Afghanistan’s key defeat of the bowling disaster that supported England exposed their lack of adaptability in their offense.
Michael Vaughan’s cruel behavior: “England is not good enough”
Former captain Michael Vaughan did not speak after England’s defeat. Vaughan slammed the white ball show in England in the past few years on social media, stressing that their decline was not surprising.
Vaughan posted on X (formerly Twitter): “Glory from Afghanistan. A totally deserved victory. England hasn’t played well enough in a few years. Under these conditions, this result is not surprising.”
His statement echoes a growing sentiment that the white teams England once held are now working to keep pace with evolving teams like Afghanistan, who have improved their skills in global competitions.
Jos Buttler responded: “We have to take responsibility”
England captain Jos Buttler admitted his side’s flaws after the shocking exit. Speaking to the media, Buttler admitted that the team had no excuses and had to be held responsible for poor performance.
“It’s a tough loss. Afghanistan has performed very well and we’re not good enough at a critical moment. We have to be responsible for not completing the game and not executing our plans,” Butler said.
He also refuted the claim that harsh conditions were a factor in England’s failure, strengthening adaptability was key to international competitions. “The conditions are the same for both teams. We need to perform better, and we don’t.”
Joe Root
Despite England’s collective defeat, Joe Root fought a well-planned 118 heroic battles. His innings kept hunting in England, but the lack of support for the intermediate order proved to be expensive. The bowler of Afghanistan is the leader of Azmatullah Omarzai (5/58), who keeps his nerves in death and has won an unforgettable victory for their country.
The Rise of Afghanistan: Another Historic Victory
This victory is not just about eliminating England. It marks another important milestone in Afghanistan’s growing legacy of world cricket. After the amazing England at the 2023 ODI World Cup, they did it again, proving that they are no longer just losers, but the biggest real contender on the stage.
