England exits Champions Trophy after 8-run loss to Afghanistan

England's hopes in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 were dashed following an eight-run defeat to Afghanistan, marking a low point in their white-ball campaign. Afghanistan set a challenging target of 326 runs, led by Ibrahim Zadran's record-breaking 177. Despite Joe Root's commendable 120 runs, England faltered in their chase, getting bowled out for 317 with just one ball remaining. This loss represents England's ninth defeat in ten limited-overs matches, raising questions about Jos Buttler's future as captain. The match, held in Lahore, was a must-win for England after losing their previous game against Australia. As a result, they exit the tournament earlier than expected, continuing a troubling trend for the team.