The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) on Thursday announced the names of the nominees shortlisted for the 2020/21 UEFA Men’s and Women’s Player of the Year Awards.

The award winners will be announced at the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League group stage draw ceremony, which will take place on Thursday, August 26 at the Halic Congress Center in Istanbul, Turkey. On the same occasion, UEFA will also honour the coaches who have had the biggest impact over the previous season with the UEFA Men’s Coach of the Year and UEFA Women’s Coach of the Year Awards. For Men’s player of the year, Kevin De Bryune (Belgium – Manchester City FC), Jorginho (Italy – Chelsea FC), and N’Golo Kante (France – Chelsea FC) were shortlisted by a jury composed of 24 coaches of the national teams which participated in this summer’s UEFA EURO 2020, together with 80 coaches of the clubs which played in the group stages of the 2020/21 UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League. Fifty-five journalists from each of UEFA’s 55 member associations, selected by the European Sports Media (ESM) group, were also part of the jury.

For the women’s player of the year, all three players selected are from La Liga’s FC Barcelona. Jennifer Hermoso(Spain – FC Barcelona), Lieke Martens (Netherlands – FC Barcelona), and Alexia Putellas (Spain – FC Barcelona) are the final three.

The UEFA Player of the Year awards complements the positional awards, which will crown the best men’s and women’s goalkeeper, defender, midfielder, and Forward of the 2020/21 club competition season, and which will also be announced during the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League group stage draw ceremony in Istanbul.

Chennai Super Kings is set to start preparations for the UAE leg of the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League at the ICC Cricket Academy in Dubai from Thursday. Defending champions Mumbai Indians will begin their preparations at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium from Friday.

Speaking to ANI, sources in the know of developments said both teams have completed their 6-day quarantine period successfully and while the CSK outfit starts training on Thursday, MI will kickstart their preparations on Friday. “Both the teams have completed the quarantine process successfully and are ready to start preparations for the IPL. While CSK begin training tonight at the ICC Cricket Academy in Dubai, MI begin their training programme from Friday at the training facility inside the Sheikh Zayed Stadium,” the source said.

Last year’s runners-up Delhi Capitals (DC) will depart for the UAE on Saturday. Star batsman Shreyas Iyer is already in the UAE with the fitness coach and the international stars will join the squad following the conclusion of their international commitments.

“Delhi Capitals will leave on Saturday early morning for UAE for IPL 2021. The team will leave from Delhi with domestic players and officials. Domestic players are already in quarantine in the national capital and they will be quarantined in UAE for a week. Post quarantine their camp will start,” a DC official said.

“Shreyas Iyer is already in UAE with a fitness coach and the rest of the players from India, South Africa and England will join the team after their international assignments are over.”

The 14th season, which was postponed in May this year in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, will resume on September 19 in Dubai with a blockbuster clash between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians.

The action will then shift to Abu Dhabi where Kolkata Knight Riders will square off against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Sharjah will host its first game on September 24 when Royal Challengers Bangalore take on Chennai Super Kings. In all, 13 matches will be held in Dubai, 10 in Sharjah, and 8 in Abu Dhabi.

Vijender Singh, an Indian professional boxer, spoke to The Daily Guardian in an exclusive interview and talked about the sport, academies and his stints as an actor. Excerpts:

Q. This time Lovlina won a medal in Tokyo. How much positive impact will her medal have on Indian women?

A. Lovleena performed brilliantly and brought glory for India, that’s much appreciated. And now, experts believe that at least two to three medals will come in the upcoming Olympics.

Q. How effective can boxing academies be at the grassroot level?

A. They have a lot of impact. Take the example of Sunil Sir. He established this boxing academy in Dwarka. I believe he has been a good boxer so he will prove to be a good coach too. This is really good news for Delhi-NCR that such a big boxer is running a boxing academy here. The academy will produce Olympians.

Q. What role does the Boxing federation play in grooming the raw talent of our country?

A. When someone starts boxing, he doesn’t talk about Boxing Federation. It will be talked about but first you learn the sport, you should learn boxing. When it comes to a federation, it will be the next level. First of all, you should motivate people to do boxing. And I believe that there is a place to do boxing, training also happens there. There is proper gym and conditioning equipment. According to me, you will hardly find such a nice place as this.

Q. Events like Big Bout League help to shine internationally as well as financially. What would you like to say about this?

A. Many boxers take part in professional boxing, it is said that only one boxer can become a national champion. The boxer who does not become a national champion can try his career in professional boxing. We have had bouts in Delhi, Mumbai, Goa, and even in Dubai and the US. So I would like to welcome all the boys who want to get into professional boxing. Big Bout League has done a good job for our boxers.

Q. Apart from sports, you appeared in the films. What would you like to comment on that?

A. Have fun, have fun, illuminate the name of India, your state, your village, and your parents!

Former India opener Gautam Gambhir feels Virat Kohli and boys will have an edge over Pakistan in the upcoming T20 World Cup. But he was quick to add that no team should be taken for granted in the showpiece event.

India will face Pakistan in their opening game of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 at the Dubai International Stadium on October 24. “Expectations are going to be really high from Pakistan as well, and at the moment, if you see, India is far more superior to Pakistan. Yes, in a T20 format, anyone can beat anyone because it is a very individual kind of format, and we should not take any team for granted,” Gambhir said on Star Sports show Game Plan ICC T20 WC Schedule.

“For example, you should not take Afghanistan for granted. People like Rashid Khan can create upsets. It’s the same with Pakistan. But, yes, there will be pressure on Pakistan,” he added.

India, champions in the inaugural edition played in South Africa in 2007 and finalists in 2014, will also have Afghanistan, New Zealand, and two qualifiers from Round 1 to contend with in Group 2.

Gambhir believes Afghanistan is the real underdogs in the tournament.

“You can’t take Afghanistan lightly as well. I have always been a believer that if you want to talk about one team that is going to be a real underdog in this tournament, that must be Afghanistan. Additionally, they have got people like Rashid Khan, Mujeeb, and Mohd Nabi, you can’t take them lightly,” he added.

Meanwhile, Group 1 comprises England, Australia, South Africa, the West Indies, and two qualifiers from Round 1. Gambhir also explained why Group 1 is the actual group of death

“Group 1 is the group of death, and that’s actually the real group. You’ve got four teams locked in and playing what, on day one of the T20 World Cup, that’s going to be a very exciting Saturday,” said Gambhir.

“West Indies have always been very unpredictable with the kind of firepower they’ve got — they can go on to win the third time as well. England has also got the firepower; they have probably got the most consistent white-ball team over the last couple of years — after winning the 50-over World Cup.

“Australia has literally gone off the radar, probably because a lot of main players are missing, but then again, I think they can be very dangerous on that particular day,” he added.

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in UAE and Oman will get underway from October 17, with the final to be played in Dubai on November 14

England men’s head coach Chris Silverwood has named a 15-player squad for the third Test match against India starting at Emerald Headingley on Wednesday, August 25.

Yorkshire batsman Dawid Malan returned to the Test squad for the first time in three years. He last played Test cricket in August 2018 in England’s victory over India at Edgbaston. He will be looking to add to his 15 caps. Lancashire seamer Saqib Mahmood is included after impressing in all formats. He has yet to make his Test debut but will be aiming to add to his England credentials, having already been capped by the senior side in ODIs and IT20s.

The 24-year-old right-arm quick is familiar with the England set-up, having toured as a reserve during England’s winter Test programmes in Sri Lanka and India. In addition, he was part of the extended squads during last summer’s behind closed doors Test series against West Indies and Pakistan and was called up as back up in the build-up to the first Test at Lord’s.

Batsmen Zak Crawley and Dom Sibley are omitted and will return to Kent and Warwickshire respectively, to spend some time playing.

Somerset spinner Jack Leach will return to Taunton, but remains on standby as back-up to Moeen Ali. The England medical team will monitor seamer Mark Wood’s injured right shoulder sustained at the end of day four during the first Test at Lord’s. It is expected that he will make a full recovery ahead of the Emerald Headingley Test.

England Men’s Head Coach, Chris Silverwood in a release said: “The Test series is beautifully poised, and we are relishing the prospect of aiming to bounce back at Emerald Headingley next week.”

“Dawid Malan deserves his opportunity in the Test arena. He has a lot of experience across all formats and, if called upon, I am confident that he can come and do well on his home ground. In the limited time he has played first-class cricket this season, he has shown what he is capable of, scoring a highly accomplished 199 for Yorkshire against Sussex at Headingley in June.”

“Zak Crawley will return to Kent to galvanise the excellent work he did last week in the nets at Lord’s with Assistant Coach Graham Thorpe. Zak is still a massive part of our plans moving forward, but we feel he would benefit from time outside the pressure of international competition to get some time working on his skills. He has a bright future and I do not doubt that his time will come again in the Test arena.”

Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo has rubbished the “disrespectful” media reports which suggested the Portugal striker could return to Real Madrid.

The star footballer is entering the last year of his Juventus deal and there were talks of him moving to his old club. “Anyone who knows me is aware of how focused I am on my work. Less talk and more action, this has been my guiding motto since the start of my career. However, in view of everything that’s been said and written recently, I have to set out my position,” Ronaldo said in a statement on Instagram.

“More than the disrespect for me as a man and as a player, the frivolous way that my future is covered in the media is disrespectful to all the clubs involved in these rumours, as well as to their players and staff.

“My story at Real Madrid has been written. It’s been recorded. In words and numbers, in trophies and titles, in records and in headlines. It’s in the Museum at the Bernabeu Stadium and it’s also in the minds of every fan of the club.

“And beyond what I achieved, I remember that in those nine years I had a relationship of deep affection and respect for ‘merengue aficion’, an affection and respect that I retain to this day, and that I will always cherish. I know that the true Real Madrid fans will continue to have me in their hearts, and I will have them in mine,” he added.

The Juventus star also blasted the recent news and stories claiming that he is in talks with other clubs too.