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Steven Smith withdraws run-out appeal against Noor Ahmad
Replays showed Noor to be well out of his ground, but Smith was quick to signal to the umpires that the appeal should not be considered, despite some enthusiasm from Inglis. Noor had just completed a single after Omarzai struck Nathan Ellis through midwicket and called Noor - the No. 10 batter - through, in order to keep strike for the next over.
Although Afghanistan were not attempting to gain an advantage, the rules of cricket are clear. Run-outs are a viable dismissal until the ball is dead. If Smith had not withdrawn the appeal, Noor would have been ruled out, likely by third umpire Chris Gaffaney.
Noor had been on three off three balls at the time, and went to make six off eight. But of more consequence was the fact that Afghanistan would have been 248 for 9 after 47 overs had Smith not withdrawn the appeal. They were less likely to have hit the further 25 runs they managed if they had only had one wicket in hand. Noor was eventually dismissed off the last ball of the innings.
Delhi Capitals bowl against table-toppers Mumbai Indians; both teams unchanged
Toss Delhi Capitals chose to bowl vs Mumbai Indians
The match is being played on the centre pitch of the Chinnaswamy Stadium, which means the square boundaries measure 58 metres each. The straight boundary is 68 metres. The pitch had a little less grass compared to the previous game played on this strip.
Delhi Capitals: 1 Meg Lanning (capt), 2 Shafali Verma, 3 Jemimah Rodrigues, 4 Annabel Sutherland, 5 Marizanne Kapp, 6 Jess Jonassen, 7 Sarah Bryce (wk), 8 Niki Prasad, 9 Shikha Pandey, 10 Minnu Mani, 11 Titas Sadhu
Mumbai Indians: 1 Hayley Matthews, 2 Yastika Bhatia (wk), 3 Nat Sciver-Brunt, 4 Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), 5 Amelia Kerr, 6 S Sajana, 7 Amanjot Kaur, G Kamalini, 9 Sanskriti Gupta, 10 Shabnim Ismail, 11 Jintimani Kalita
Jos Buttler quits as England's white-ball captain after Champions Trophy exit
England have already been eliminated from the Champions Trophy, after they lost their first two group games against Australia and Afghanistan. They prepared for the tournament with a trip to India which saw them win only one of their eight matches in Brendon McCullum's first tour as white-ball coach.
"I'm going to stand down as England captain," Buttler said. "It's the right decision for me and the right decision for the team. Hopefully somebody else who can come in alongside Baz will take the team to where it needs to be." Harry Brook, Buttler's vice-captain, is the early favourite to replace him.
Buttler will continue to play for England, and said he wants to "get back to really enjoying my cricket". He said: "The overriding emotions are still sadness and disappointment. I'm sure, in time, that will pass and I can get back to really enjoying my cricket, and [will] also be able to reflect on what an immense honour it is to captain your country and all the special things that come with it."
Buttler was appointed as Eoin Morgan's successor in June 2022 and won the T20 World Cup in Australia later that year. But England's results have declined sharply since and after three unsuccessful ICC events in a row - the 2023 50-over World Cup, the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy - Buttler has decided to stand down.
"It was quite clear that this tournament was going to be important: results-wise and for my captaincy," Buttler said. "Two losses and being out of the tournament [was] a bit of a hangover of tournaments before. I'd just reached the end of the road for me and my captaincy, which is a shame and I'm sad about that.
"With Brendon coming in only recently, I was really excited to work closely alongside him and hope for a very quick turnaround and to take the team forward. But it's not quite worked out that way, so just feels like the right time for me and the team to have a change."
Buttler's position came under increasing scrutiny after a sustained poor run of ODI form for England stretching back to the start of the 2023 World Cup. In defence of their World Cup title, England won just three group games out of nine and were the first team to be officially eliminated from the tournament. It began a run that has seen them lose 18 of the last 25 ODIs, including the two that put paid to their Champions Trophy campaign at the first hurdle.
Brook is tipped to succeed him, though McCullum said England had not yet settled on a candidate. He praised Buttler's leadership while saying he was "incredibly sad" to see him step down.
"We've all seen over the last couple of years how much he's invested in captaining his country and trying to get very best out of those guys around him," McCullum said. "People forget that he literally won a World Cup only a couple of years ago, and that can never be taken away from him. It's incredibly unselfish from Jos to step aside and to leave the post for someone else, and he's still a huge player for us moving forward. I'm sure we will look at ways that we can get the best out of him in terms of his role, so he can have maximum impact as well."
Both Rob Key, managing director, England Men, and Richard Gould, the ECB's chief executive, paid tribute to Buttler's time in charge.
"Working with Jos has been a pleasure," Key said. "He's been dealt some tough challenges, but never once flinched trying to drive this team forward for the better. Nobody deserved that World Cup win in Australia more. I can't wait to see him back in the ranks and at his best."
Gould added: "I'd like to thank Jos for all he has given in his two and a half years captaining England Men in white-ball cricket. Under his leadership, England became men's T20 World Champions, and throughout his time as captain he has been a role model in the way he conducts himself on and off the pitch.
"Jos is one of cricket's all-time great white ball players. I've been lucky enough to follow his career from when he first came through as a youngster in Somerset, and I hope we still have many years to enjoy of him pulling on an England shirt."
McCullum: Buttler's successor will need 'right support' to lead rennaissance
McCullum suggested that was down to the circumstances Buttler had to lead his side in, rather than any shortcomings in his captaincy itself. Even as England struggled in white-ball ICC events since winning the 2022 T20I World Cup, Buttler often found himself leading sides on bilateral tours that weren't close to full strength.
McCullum appeared to allude to those circumstances as he spoke of England's next white-ball captain, and his desire to avoid putting him in similarly unenviable circumstances. "That's something Keysy [Rob Keys] and myself and the ECB are trying to ensure, that we give every format the most amount of attention that we possibly can," he said. "It's a tricky balancing act at times."
McCullum has been Test coach since 2022, and had his pick of players for that format. But with all three formats now falling under his stewardship, he hinted that full availability for Test cricket may no longer be as set in stone in future.
"Looking back even on these most recent series, you'd argue that you could rest some players for some Test series and try and balance things out across formats," he said. "Give us a couple of weeks to work things out and digest what's unfolded here, work out what areas we've been short in and done okay in, work out the structure of how we want to do things moving forward. We've got a couple of months before our next assignment, so there is a bit of time to work that out."
McCullum kept returning to the theme of Buttler's captaincy, and how he felt it would be remembered more kindly than raw results might suggest. He said Buttler had set a solid foundation for his replacement, comparing it to the health of the England Test side following Joe Root's resignation as Test captain in 2022 after a series of indifferent results.
"I said to the boys tonight in the team room sometimes it's not necessarily the time that you're in the post and the results that you get during that time. The impact you have in leadership positions can be felt after you left the post, and I'm sure that'll be the case. I think Joe Root was a classic example of that with the Test captaincy. He was able to at least hold the fort to a degree under incredibly trying circumstances, and then the uplift of performance when Stokesy [Ben Stokes] took over sort of followed from that, and hopefully it'll be the same across the white-ball teams whenever we decide on who that person is going to be."
The ECB had hoped linking up Buttler with McCullum, two preternaturally attacking white-ball players, would help unleash England's white-ball potential in the way managed by Eoin Morgan following the 2015 World Cup. However, with results spiralling, England and McCullum have been criticised for what has come to be seen as a simplistic approach, not necessarily suited to the skillsets of the specific players England's white-ball sides have at their disposal.
McCullum pushed back against that notion firmly, pointing out the close margins England had missed out by this tournament. "We've had our opportunities and played some okay cricket," he said, "and both games we could have won, and then we're sitting here and talking about something slightly different. I genuinely believe we've got immense talent in English cricket across all forms.
"If anything, we are lacking confidence. There's a perception out there that we're a happy-go-lucky, arrogant type of team. We couldn't be further from that. These guys are too hard on themselves, they've got immense talent they are desperate ... to perform. That's actually stymying the ability of us to get the performance we want. They care too much. That's not a bad thing. They're just desperate to perform and do right by all those who support the team, and support them. Until we get to the stage where we're able to still handle walking out there and playing, without wearing disappointment so heavily, then we're always going to stymie ourselves. That's our job over the next little while."
While Harry Brook is the favourite to succeed Buttler, McCullum said England had not decided on a successor. While that is partly because, in McCullum's words, Buttler's resignation "came a little sooner than expected", he felt it also spoke to the characters in the England side.
"There's some really good leaders that have developed," McCullum said. "That's the mark of Jos's captaincy, he brought on other leaders within the group. They're not necessarily seasoned players, but they are young guys who have got good cricketing knowledge and he's encouraged them to learn and develop as leaders. Whoever we settle on, we've just got to make sure we're giving them the right support so that we can improve our performances."
Danyal Rasool is ESPNcricinfo's Pakistan correspondent. @Danny61000
Pair of aces: Whitnell's round has 2 holes-in-one
DURBAN, South Africa -- Dale Whitnell made two holes-in-one in the same round at the South African Open on Friday, having entered the day worrying about just making the cut at the European tour event.
The 36-year-old Englishman aced the par-3 second and 12th holes at the Durban Country Club in a wild 9-under 63 second round that included another eagle, seven birdies, two bogeys and one double bogey.
"I was struggling to make the cut, so I knew I needed to go out and play well and got off to a hot start as they would say," said Whitnell, ranked No. 545.
"Birdied the first and then hit a flush 7-iron on the second and didn't realize it went in until down the bottom they sort of cheered," he added. "That was lovely."
Whitnell then eagled the par-5 third and would have to wait a whopping nine holes for his second ace.
"I've never had one in tournament play. To have two in one day is pretty special," he said, a day after shooting a level-par 72 in the opening round.
Bond says he'll break Worthy's combine record
INDIANAPOLIS -- If Isaiah Bond is correct, Xavier Worthy's record 40-yard dash time at the NFL scouting combine will last just one season but remain with Texas.
Last year, Worthy, a former Longhorn, ran a 4.21-second 40 and was eventually a first-round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs. Bond, who played last season at Texas after starting at Alabama, will run Saturday.
"I'm going to break the record tomorrow, for sure," Bond said Friday. "I anticipate running 4.20 or possibly, if I'm feeling great, I might run a 4.1."
Bond said his best time in training has been 4.23 leading up to the combine.
"I've been running my whole life," Bond said. "I've been one of the fastest my whole life, so I'm going to go out there, and when practice meets preparation, greatness is achieved. So I'm just going to trust my training and put on a show."
Bond was clocked at more than 22 mph in a win against UTSA last season. He finished the 2024 season with 34 catches for 540 yards and five touchdowns. He is the No. 10 wide receiver in Mel Kiper Jr.'s draft rankings.
He might not be the only receiver looking to break Worthy's record.
"If you blink," Oregon's Tez Johnson said, "you just might miss me."
Short answer: Gabriel cites wins amid height Q's
INDIANAPOLIS -- Former Oregon Ducks quarterback Dillon Gabriel shot back at doubters who said he can't play in the NFL because of his height.
Gabriel, listed at 5-foot-11, is looking to join Kyler Murray, Bryce Young and Russell Wilson among the only starting quarterbacks who are under 6 feet.
"I've had the most experience ever as you can imagine starting in high school as a freshman all the way into my senior year on varsity, and then I've done the same thing in college," Gabriel said. "I'm a leader. I'm a winner. I've won at all three spots, and I've done it in big games."
Gabriel was a Heisman Trophy finalist. Young and Murray won the award in their final seasons. Having spent six seasons in college with stops at UCF, Oklahoma and Oregon, Gabriel said he feels he has learned a lot about football. But he added that he's still learning.
ESPN NFL draft analyst Jordan Reid has Gabriel as his fourth-ranked quarterback and projects him to be a Day 2 pick. Gabriel met with multiple teams, most notably the Las Vegas Raiders and Dallas Cowboys.
"I want teams to believe I can go out there and win games," Gabriel said. "If a team wants a winner, a franchise leader, they know who to call."
QB Sanders confident success will repeat in NFL
INDIANAPOLIS -- Shedeur Sanders didn't tone down his overt displays of confidence at Jackson State or Colorado.
Now, as the draft prospect continues his path to the NFL, there's no reason to expect him to modify that approach, either.
Speaking at the NFL scouting combine Friday morning, Sanders -- one of this year's top quarterback prospects -- made a bold prediction about the kind of impact he expects to make in the NFL.
"We went from Jackson State to Colorado and changed two programs back to back," said Sanders, who played at both programs under his father, Colorado coach Deion Sanders. "So, you don't think I could come to an NFL franchise and change the program again? It's history. We've done it again. It's always going to repeat itself."
Sanders' confidence was a theme of his media session, per usual. He was also followed, as always, by a personal videographer documenting his every move in Indianapolis.
The source of Sanders' confidence -- besides his father instilling it -- is the college success he enjoyed. Along with star two-way player Travis Hunter, he helped turn around Colorado's fate from a 1-11 team in 2022 before their arrival to 4-8 a year later to 9-4 (7-2 in the Big 12) in 2024.
And he adamantly promised to do it again in the NFL.
"That's the plan," Sanders said. "If that's not what you're trying to do, don't [pick] me. If you ain't trying to change the franchise or the culture, don't [pick] me. You should know history repeats itself over and over and over and I've done it over and over and over. So, it should be no question."
Sanders said he wouldn't alter his confident approach even while meeting here with NFL clubs. He was unapologetic when asked about those interactions.
"It was easy meeting with people because I'm going to just be myself," he said. "It's like you either like it or you don't."
Sanders is viewed as one of the top quarterbacks in the class, Miami's Cam Ward could potentially be selected before him. Sanders begs to differ. He said he views himself as the top quarterback available and questioned why some might feel differently.
"I've [turned around teams] at two locations already," he said. "So, it's simple. So, that's why when people say I'm not one of the top quarterbacks or the top quarterback, [I say] what are y'all going based off of? Because I did it year after year after year and you see the progression. So, it's like obvious it's got to be some type of external hate that you have for the family, for the last name -- for anything. Because I know I proved myself on the field."
Among the topics Sanders addressed at length was his relationship with former NFL quarterback -- and now Las Vegas Raiders part-owner -- Tom Brady. Brady has become a close mentor of Sanders' and continues to advise him through the pre-draft process.
The Raiders' need at quarterback and them possessing the sixth overall pick has become an interesting subplot around Sanders.
Asked about possibly joining forces with Brady in Las Vegas, Sanders said, "he's an all-time great. Being able to have that resource, being able to have that person I'm able to talk to and call whenever I'm having questions about the game, and he's able to relate to it -- he did it at the highest level -- is truly amazing. I'm thankful for that."
The relationship, Sanders said, dates back a couple of years and began with an overture from Brady, who invited Sanders to Tampa to work out with him. Sanders said he filmed each of those sessions and still refers to the advice Brady offered.
"Sometimes I go back and just listen to the things that he said at that time and it registers," Sanders said. "Everything that he said back then registers now and it applies."
Sanders, like his close friend Ward, won't participate in Saturday's on-field quarterback workouts. Both are expected to do so at their campus pro days instead.
Whatever anyone might think of that decision or anything else Sanders chooses does not seem to concern him, though. "You think I'm worried about what critics say or what people have to say," he said. "You know who my dad is? They hate on him, too."
Popovich visits Spurs, won't return this season
Hall of Fame coach Gregg Popovich held an emotional in-person meeting Thursday with San Antonio Spurs players, who were all able to see him for the first time since his stroke in November, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania.
After the meeting, Popovich issued a statement saying he officially will not return as coach this season but hopes to return in the future. Sources told ESPN on Saturday that Popovich's NBA future is uncertain.
"I've decided not to return to the sidelines this season," Popovich said in a statement issued Thursday. "Mitch Johnson and his staff have done a wonderful job and the resolve and professionalism the players have shown, sticking together during a challenging season, has been outstanding.
"I will continue to focus on my health with the hope that I can return to coaching in the future."
Sources told ESPN that tears were shed from those in the room during Thursday's meeting and players saw physical signs of what Popovich has gone through since the stroke. The meeting, however, was filled with motivational messages, jokes, critique and praise from the coach, sources said.
Popovich is the NBA's winningest coach with 1,412 regular-season victories and another 170 in the postseason to go with five championships. On Nov. 2, he suffered what the team called a "mild stroke" ahead of a matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Spurs have gone 22-30 since moving Johnson, an assistant, into the head coaching role on an interim basis.
Popovich, who has coached the Spurs since the 1996-97 season, turned 76 in January and is the oldest coach in NBA history. He agreed to a five-year contract extension with the team in 2023.
His visit to the team came a week after the Spurs announced that All-Star center Victor Wembanyama -- the defensive player of the year favorite at the time and someone who was a serious candidate to make the All-NBA team -- will not play again this season after deep vein thrombosis, or a blood clot, was found in his right shoulder.
Wembanyama, who came to San Antonio as the No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft after playing as a pro in France, has called Popovich his biggest basketball influence.
"Pop isn't just a coach or a boss," the 21-year-old Wembanyama said earlier this month. "Pop is a leader."
Popovich's only public comment prior to Thursday about his health and his future came in mid-December, when he said he and his family were overwhelmed by "the outpouring of support we've received during this time."
ESPN's Michael C. Wright and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Phillies' Harper back in lineup 2 days after HBP
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Bryce Harper is returning to the Philadelphia Phillies lineup Friday, two days after getting hit on the arm by a pitch.
Harper is scheduled to hit second and play in his usual spot at first base against the Boston Red Sox.
Harper had a bruise on his right arm after getting hit by a 92 mph pitch from Toronto Blue Jays left-hander Richard Lovelady. Manager Rob Thomson said Harper had a scheduled off day on Thursday and that the team was "not really overconcerned at all."
Thomson told reporters that the team's initial diagnosis was a bruised right triceps.
The two-time National League MVP is looking for his first hit of the spring. Harper is 0-for-2 with a walk in three place appearances in Grapefruit League play.
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