England batter Ben Duckett has withdrawn from the Indian Premier League in a bid to rescue his international career following a dismal winter across all formats.
The 31-year-old was due to play for the Delhi Capitals but has opted to return to Nottinghamshire ahead of the English summer.
He will work closely with head coach Peter Moores and England fitness expert Peter Sims to correct underlying technical flaws.
The left-handed opener managed just one score over fifty in 16 innings during a highly scrutinised touring schedule.
A winter of struggle and off-field controversy
A highest score of 42 during the recent Ashes series was compounded by an off-field incident during a mid-series break in Noosa.
The Nottinghamshire batter was filmed seemingly intoxicated, prompting widespread reports of an excessive drinking culture within the squad.
He subsequently remained an unused squad member during England’s recent T20 World Cup campaign across India and Sri Lanka.
“I’m desperate to play all three formats for England for as long as I can,” Duckett told the Daily Telegraph.
Sacrificing franchise cricket for Test redemption
By making himself unavailable after the auction, the top-order batter risks an IPL ban until 2029.
The decision also means he will forfeit a lucrative £200,000 contract for the franchise tournament starting this Saturday.
However, he hopes the financial sacrifice will pay dividends ahead of England’s first Test against New Zealand on 4 June.
“This is a decision I hope I will look back on in 10 years and see as a pivotal moment in my career, and the right decision. I will being doing everything I can to be ready for England.”
Rebuilding fitness and reputation
Reflecting on a turbulent year, Duckett admitted his regret over the Noosa controversy, which has since led to a strict midnight curfew for all England players.
“I am sorry for that… Not playing in the World Cup and being on the sidelines in India after such a tough Ashes series was a struggle for me.”
Despite a sharp decline in his stock over the past twelve months, the international star remains fiercely determined to fight for his place.
“It’s lit a massive fire in my belly moving forward. I don’t know where I stand, or what is to come.”
Six final places for the expanded 2026 World Cup are to be decided over the next week, with four-time champions Italy headlining the crucial European and intercontinental play-offs.
The 48-team tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, will see four European nations and two intercontinental qualifiers complete its line-up.
Italy face daunting prospect
The Azzurri are the standout name among the hopefuls and face the stark reality of missing a third consecutive global finals.
Manager Gennaro Gattuso admitted the pressure is mounting on his side ahead of Thursday’s semi-finals.
“It’s undeniable that there’s nervousness,” stated the former midfielder.
“Only someone without blood running through their veins wouldn’t feel it.”
Elsewhere, the likes of New Caledonia, Suriname, Kosovo and Albania are striving to qualify for the prestigious tournament for the very first time.
European qualification paths
Europe will send a 16-team contingent to North America, with 12 nations having already secured their berths.
The remaining four spots will be settled through eight one-off semi-finals, followed by four decisive finals next Tuesday.
Italy must navigate Path A, hosting Northern Ireland before a potential final against either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Path B sees Ukraine take on Sweden, while Poland clash with Albania.
Turkey face Romania and Slovakia meet Kosovo in Path C.
The final European route, Path D, pits Denmark against North Macedonia and the Czech Republic against the Republic of Ireland.
Intercontinental battles in Mexico
A distinct six-team tournament hosted in the Mexican cities of Guadalajara and Monterrey will determine the final two global participants.
New Caledonia face Jamaica in the first semi-final path, with the ultimate winner advancing to play top-seeded DR Congo.
The second route sees Bolivia take on Suriname for the right to challenge Iraq in a winner-takes-all final showdown.
Nottingham Forest defender Neco Williams says Wales must embrace the pressure of succeeding a golden generation as they prepare for Thursday’s crucial World Cup play-off semi-final against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The national team is currently transitioning following the international retirement of talismanic figures such as Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey.
Those iconic names established a formidable legacy that the current squad must now navigate on the global stage.
The 23-year-old acknowledges that stepping into the void left by such revered stars presents a unique psychological challenge.
Navigating the weight of expectation
When asked if the shadow cast by former greats serves as an inspiration or a burden, the full-back was refreshingly honest.
“A bit of both,” Williams told BBC Sport.
“As kids, you watched the likes of Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey, Craig Bellamy. You grew up idolising them.”
The former Liverpool academy graduate is no longer the youthful prospect who helped his nation secure qualification for Qatar 2022.
He now views himself as an established senior professional tasked with guiding the next wave of international talent.
Bellamy’s obsessive managerial style
The Dragons are currently led by another legendary figure in the form of Craig Bellamy.
The former Newcastle United and Manchester City forward took charge of the national setup following Rob Page’s dismissal.
Williams has quickly developed a profound admiration for his new manager’s relentless approach to the sport.
“How good he was as a player, he’s the exact same as a manager. He’s obsessed with football,” he explained.
“He’s just constantly talking about football. He’s obsessed with Wales and you want a manager like that.”
Chasing redemption after Qatar struggles
Victory in Cardiff would set up a decisive play-off final against either Italy or Northern Ireland next week.
Securing a spot in the upcoming summer tournament would offer the squad a chance to improve upon their difficult previous experience in Qatar.
Their last qualification campaign was severely disrupted due to a delayed fixture against Ukraine.
“So it felt like everything about that tournament was a little bit rushed,” the defender recalled.
The Welsh camp ultimately struggled on the biggest stage, finishing bottom of their group with just a single point.
However, the tight-knit nature of the current roster gives their experienced defender supreme confidence that they are better equipped this time around.
Arkansas freshman Darius Acuff Jr has become the first NCAA men’s athlete to secure a signature shoe deal with a major US brand after signing with Reebok.
The 19-year-old guard agreed to the unprecedented contract amid a spectacular debut season that has propelled his team to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.
Jide Osifeso, head of basketball at Reebok, confirmed the landmark agreement to ESPN.
It marks the manufacturer’s first signature shoe for a men’s basketball player since former NBA All-Star John Wall.
Record-breaking freshman campaign
The highly coveted prospect recently swept the board in regional honours, being named SEC Player of the Year after an extraordinary regular season.
He etched his name into the collegiate history books by becoming the first player to lead the Southeastern Conference in both points and assists per game since the legendary Pete Maravich in the 1969-70 season.
Those phenomenal individual performances translated directly to team success, with the Razorbacks capturing the SEC Tournament title earlier this month.
Given his unprecedented collegiate production, draft analysts currently project the dynamic playmaker to be selected eighth overall in the 2026 NBA Draft.
March Madness heroics
The teenage sensation has carried his formidable form onto the national stage, amassing 60 points across his first two postseason appearances.
That exceptional scoring tally surpassed Kentucky great Pat Riley’s previous SEC record of 58 points for a player’s first two career NCAA tournament matches.
Furthermore, the rising star became only the second player in half a century to average 30 points and five assists over their opening two tournament fixtures, matching Billy Donovan’s achievement.
He also joins Chris Paul as the only freshmen since 1973 to begin their NCAA tournament careers with consecutive games of at least 20 points and five assists.
Mikaela Shiffrin has won the World Cup slalom in Hafjell to ensure the battle for the overall title against Emma Aicher goes down to Wednesday’s final race.
The American superstar claimed her ninth victory in 10 slalom starts this season by a massive 1.32 seconds ahead of Wendy Holdener.
That dominant triumph earned the Olympic champion 100 crucial points in the race for the overall crown.
However, Germany’s Aicher secured an impressive third-place finish to keep the standings gap below the 100-point threshold.
Record-tying sixth title in sight
The 29-year-old will start Wednesday’s season-ending giant slalom holding an 85-point advantage over her closest rival.
Aicher must now secure a victory to deny the lightning-fast skier a women’s record-tying sixth overall championship.
The odds remain heavily stacked in favour of the current standings leader.
Her young challenger has never won a World Cup giant slalom event.
Aicher’s career-best finish in the discipline remains a fourth place achieved earlier this month in Are, Sweden.
Historic milestone awaits
A top-15 result on Wednesday will be enough to guarantee the American secures the 16 points needed to seal the championship independently.
Swiss skier Holdener inadvertently provided a vital assist by edging into second place by just 0.04 seconds.
That narrow margin kept 20 valuable World Cup points off her German opponent’s tally.
Tuesday’s triumph marked a staggering 110th career race win for the former Olympic gold medallist.
Securing the overall crown would see her match Austrian downhill great Annemarie Moser-Pröll’s long-standing women’s World Cup record.
Undefeated British flyweight Muhammad Mokaev and former heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos will fight on the undercard of Ronda Rousey’s comeback event in Los Angeles on 16 May.
The highly-anticipated card at the Intuit Dome is headlined by Rousey’s return to competition against American pioneer Gina Carano.
Mokaev will face former ONE Championship star Adriano Moraes in a high-profile mixed martial arts bout.
Meanwhile, Brazilian veteran Dos Santos is set to clash with Cuban heavyweight Robelis Despaigne.
Mokaev seeks to extend unbeaten run
The Manchester resident is widely regarded as the best unsigned flyweight prospect in world MMA.
Having moved to England as a child following the death of his mother, the KHK MMA Team representative built a formidable 23-0 amateur record.
The lightning-fast grappler successfully transitioned those skills to the professional ranks, remaining undefeated across multiple global promotions.
Seven of his most impressive professional victories were secured during his recent tenure in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
“Respect to all involved, I can’t wait to put on a great performance,” Mokaev said.
Veteran pedigree added to California bill
His Brazilian opponent will present a stern test of those undefeated credentials.
Moraes made history as the first-ever flyweight champion in ONE Championship, capturing the world title on multiple occasions.
“I didn’t come from an easy life, but I chose to turn every struggle into strength,” the submission specialist explained.
“Every time I step into the cage, I carry my story, my faith, and the belief that hard work always pays off.”
Heavyweight firepower guaranteed
Further up the weight classes, the addition of Dos Santos brings elite heavyweight pedigree to the event.
The 42-year-old famously captured the UFC heavyweight crown in 2011 by knocking out Cain Velasquez in just 64 seconds.
Known for his blistering hand speed and knockout power, the Brazilian striker has previously shared the cage with legendary figures like Stipe Miocic and Francis Ngannou.
“I’m so excited to be fighting again,” Dos Santos said.
“Fighting is my greatest motivation, the type of challenge that feeds my soul.”
Scotland have qualified for their first men’s World Cup since 1998 after defeating Denmark in a breathtaking encounter at Hampden Park.
The historic qualification was sealed when Kenny McLean launched a stunning 50-yard strike over Kasper Schmeichel.
Such was the sheer volume of the celebration, the nearby Glasgow Geothermal Observatory recorded seismic activity akin to a minor earthquake.
Scott McTominay had earlier provided a remarkable opening goal to ignite the chaotic national stadium.
A campaign defined by fine margins
The journey to this summer’s tournament required navigating a perilously complex qualification climax.
Just days before the decisive showdown in Glasgow, automatic progression seemed to be slipping away during a disastrous outing in Greece.
Trailing heavily in Piraeus, the visiting camp believed their only remaining route was via the purgatory of the play-offs.
So much optimism after a loss. It was like nothing made sense anymore.
Lewis Ferguson
Dramatic twists across Europe
Assistant manager Steven Naismith was already calculating suspension permutations for the play-offs while trailing on the Mediterranean coast.
Midfielder Ryan Christie vividly remembers the overwhelming tension as news filtered through to the bench.
You go into it thinking it’s win or draw or bust, basically. Then you find yourself 3-0 down. You’re thinking ‘we’ve really messed up the chance, haven’t we?’
Ryan Christie
However, shocking score updates from Copenhagen suddenly altered the entire complexion of the group.
Underdogs Belarus miraculously traded goals with the Danish hosts, keeping the qualification door slightly ajar.
Those plans about the bookings are out the window because we’re still in this. You’re like, ‘This is mental.’ It could have been the end – and it wasn’t.
Steven Naismith
Smelling magic at Hampden
The tense climax in Greece ended in a 3-2 defeat, leaving the players anxiously awaiting the final whistle from Denmark.
When confirmation arrived that the automatic spot remained within reach, the stage was set for an unforgettable Scottish victory.
Reflecting on the monumental triumph that followed, the national team manager perfectly encapsulated the mood of an entire country.
Steve Clarke noted that he could “smell magic” around the famous Glasgow terraces.
Czech police have detained dozens of individuals across the country as part of a major investigation into widespread football match-fixing and bribery.
State prosecutors confirmed that officers from the organised crime unit conducted extensive raids nationwide.
David Trunda, head of the Czech Football Association, revealed the organisation initiated the inquiry years ago after suspecting rigged matches.
Local media reports indicate the corruption encompasses the top four club tiers and potentially youth competitions.
World Cup preparations overshadowed
Trunda confirmed that 47 people are now facing a formal disciplinary investigation by the governing body.
“We will do everything to ensure that the betting mafia disappears from the Czech sports.”
The scandal has erupted just two days before the national team face the Republic of Ireland in Prague for a crucial World Cup play-off semi-final.
The victor of Thursday’s tie will host either Denmark or North Macedonia for a place at the upcoming tournament in North America.
The Central European nation has not qualified for international football’s showpiece event since 2006.
Parallel Turkish betting investigation
This development follows a similar ongoing investigation into alleged match-fixing and illegal wagering within Turkish football.
Last month, authorities in Turkey detained 32 individuals, including several club executives, across 10 provinces.
Suspects in that parallel investigation are accused of placing illicit bets on their own fixtures, with some wagering on opposing sides.
The Turkish Football Federation suspended over 1,000 players in November as the crisis rapidly deepened.
Among those sanctioned was national team defender Eren Elmali, who had featured regularly for Galatasaray in the Champions League earlier this season.