Jos Buttler admits stakes high for England and his captaincy against Afghanistan

Jos Buttler goes into Wednesday’s crunch encounter with Afghanistan in Lahore knowing a win is not simply a non-negotiable as regards England’s Champions Trophy prospects but potentially his future as their white-ball captain.

The washout between Australia and South Africa in Rawalpindi on Tuesday has at least clarified England’s situation. Barring further rain affecting Group B, two wins would rule out any net run-rate calculations and guarantee a semi-final berth. By the same token, it also means they are just one defeat from flying home at the earliest opportunity.

After last year’s failed defence of England’s T20 crown – a second abdication in six months after a poor 50-over World Cup – Buttler openly admitted he feared being sacked by Rob Key. Instead, the director of men’s cricket offered one last chance and persuaded Brendon McCullum to expand his previous role as Test head coach.

Asked whether the stakes were personally high on the eve of this second day-nighter, not least after 21 losses from 33 ODIs since replacing Eoin Morgan as captain in 2022, a seemingly relaxed Buttler replied: “Yeah, absolutely. I think any time as an England captain, you want to perform, you want to perform well and you want to lead your team to winning games of cricket. We haven’t been doing that enough.

“But as soon as you catch yourself thinking about any negative things, you just try to completely forget that and focus on all of the positive things that could go right and where you can take the team. I’m very much focused on that.”

After Saturday’s record-breaking five-wicket defeat by Australia on the same ground – a match that saw their bowlers underwhelm under lights – England have kept with the same team structure on a fresh pitch. The only difference in the XI is Jamie Overton’s confirmed elevation from the subs bench after Brydon Carse’s winter was ended early by a toe injury.

Buttler and his players need no reminder about Afghanistan’s potency in subcontinental conditions, having been shocked by them during the group stage of the 2023 World Cup. The Afghans lost their opener against South Africa in Karachi by 107 runs but are expected to field eight players from that historic first victory over England in Delhi.

“I give them lots of respect,” said Buttler. “They have a unique style in some senses and some great spin options. Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad are obviously two standout [spinners] that we need to prepare really well for.

“But as much as we look at the opposition, it’s about focusing on ourselves, bringing the best version of our cricket and being confident that that will be enough to win the game.”

England have rejected calls to boycott the fixture in protest at the deterioration of women’s rights in Afghanistan, with Buttler thanking the England and Wales Cricket Board for taking the decision out of the players’ hands. The comparison made here was with Nasser Hussain’s team during the 2003 World Cup, who were left to make the call on whether to play in Robert Mugabe’s Zimbabwe and withdrew on security grounds.

“I am glad the game will go ahead,” Buttler added: “It’s a very sad plight for women and girls in Afghanistan and the struggles that they’re facing. We hope that this game can be a source of hope and enjoyment in what’s obviously a tough time.”