English
Indian
العربية
Español
Deutsch
Türkçe
Русский
Français (Afrique)
‘You are not alone Nepal’, Flood victims to be remembered by clubs before every UEFA Champions League MD 1 fixture
Elite European clubs will pay a tribute to the lives lost in the tragic floods that took place in Nepal earlier this month before every single matchday one fixture of the upcoming UEFA Champions League 2026-27 season which kicks-off today.
UEFA has announced that a moment of silence will be observed before every Champions League match in Matchday 1 of the 2026-27 league phase. milkshakeslot.online
A banner carrying the message “You are not alone Nepal” will also be displayed at stadiums across Europe.
The tribute comes after flash floods struck Nepal on August 26. The disaster, which followed a glacier collapse in the country’s border region with China, caused widespread destruction and left thousands of people dead or missing. Rescue teams have continued their search for survivors as authorities recover bodies from the affected areas.
UEFA said the gesture was meant to show support for the people affected by the tragedy. The organization’s president, Aleksander Ceferin, said the entire European football family would stand together before the matches to express its condolences.
“The entire European football family will stand together before this week’s matches to express our deepest condolences and our support to the people of Nepal,” Ceferin said. “We wish them strength and resilience as they continue to recover from this tragedy and its aftermath,” Ceferin concluded.
The tribute will take place before all 18 matches scheduled across the three days of matchday one. It will be a reminder that football’s reach extends beyond the pitch and that the sport is for everyone. Nepal is a football loving nation and that’s why this gesture holds plenty of significance.
UEFA Champions League 2026-27 preview in brief and MD 1 schedule
The new Champions League season begins on Tuesday, September 8, and runs until January 2027. The league phase features 36 teams with each side playing eight matches against different opponents. The competition will conclude with the final in Madrid on June 5, 2027.
Several big names are in action during the opening round. Real Madrid face Inter, Manchester City travel to Porto, while Liverpool host Atletico Madrid. Paris Saint-Germain begin their campaign against Slovan Bratislava and Arsenal visit Napoli. Barcelona will also be in action against Feyenoord.
Matchday 1 fixtures
Tuesday, September 8
- AEK Athens vs LASK
- Club Brugge vs Aston Villa
- Borussia Dortmund vs Villarreal
- Porto vs Manchester City
- Lille vs Real Betis
- Real Madrid vs Inter
Wednesday, September 9
- Barcelona vs Feyenoord
- Stuttgart vs Viking
- Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid
- Paris Saint-Germain vs Slovan Bratislava
- Sporting CP vs Galatasaray
- Napoli vs Arsenal
Thursday, September 10
- Fenerbahce vs Roma
- PSV Eindhoven vs Shakhtar Donetsk
- Como vs Leipzig
- Bayern Munich vs Bodo/Glimt
- Manchester United vs Sabah
- Slavia Prague vs Lens.
Shubman is a ‘work in progress’ and will grow into a better captain: Ashish Nehra
Ashish Nehra described Shubman Gill’s captaincy as a ‘work in progress’, emphasising that he will improve with experience. The Gujarat Titans (GT) head coach believes Shubman is a keen learner despite being reserved.
Speaking at the CAB annual awards ceremony in Kolkata on Monday, Nehra said, “Shubman is someone who does not talk or have as many conversations as Hardik Pandya. But he is very much to the point. He is also a keen learner – actually, I would rather say he is a keen observer. He learns from others as well, and he is only going to get better. He is still a work in progress. He is only 26 or 27, and it’s not as if he has been captain for many years. It has only been one or two seasons. You learn things as you go, and you get better.”
Having dealt with both Shubman and Hardik at the Titans, Nehra was asked to draw a comparison between their leadership qualities.
“They are very different,” he said. “You are talking about the North Pole and the South Pole. Both of them were also learning, just like I was. Neither of them had done much captaincy before. But you learn as you move forward. Shubman Gill is now captaining India in two formats, so he is only going to get better.
“Hardik is an amazing character. One thing is for sure: he completely trusted me, which was perfect. He is always keen to learn. If something doesn’t go right or doesn’t go well, he will ask questions. He is someone you can have a lot of conversations with. Shubman, on the other hand, is a little reserved and a little shy. But that’s okay. Everyone is different. There is no right or wrong.”
The former India pacer feels it will be too early to say whether Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will make the squad for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Asked whether, if he had been the coach of the Indian team, he would pick the two veteran players, he said, “First of all, I am not coaching India. Secondly, it is too far away. When it comes to international cricket, the World Cup is still around 13 months away. We have seen, not just in Indian cricket but in every sport, how much things can change even in two or three weeks.
“If they are doing well and performing, why not? But again, if you were the coach – or if I were the coach – it would not be my decision alone. That doesn’t work with the BCCI. There are selectors and other decision-makers involved. So, there are many people involved in the decision-making process.”
He added, “We all know what Rohit and Virat have achieved over the last decade. But for me, 13 months is a long time. It is very difficult to say right now whether Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli will be there. Forget those two. Age is just a number.
“We talk about Shubman Gill and Jasprit Bumrah, but even Shubman is not in the T20 squad. The way the sport is going, it is fast-paced and more formats are coming. So, it is difficult to say. It is simply too early.”
The left-arm pacer has been involved in many high-octane games against arch-rivals Pakistan. But the rivalry between the two nations on the cricket field has, in recent times, turned out to be over-hyped, with India dominating across formats.
According to Nehra, “What Pakistan cricket used to be is not there anymore. Whether it is the West Indies Cricket Board or the PCB, it is not easy for an organisation when the country’s situation is constantly going up and down. Earlier, when there was more stability in Pakistan, we saw what kind of team they had.
“There is no shortage of talent. But when you compare the Pakistan Super League and the IPL, there is a big difference – not only financially.”
Asked if he has ambitions of coaching the Indian team, Nehra said, “I would not use the word ‘ambition’. I never plan things like that. Yes, it would be a great honour and privilege, but I never plan for things like that. We’ll see what happens in the future.
“I am very happy where I am. And when it comes to Gujarat Titans, a lot of people say that I have done well as a coach. But it’s not about me; it’s about the team. When you are a captain or a coach, the success is always associated with you. That’s the way the game goes, especially in India. But I am dead against that.
“In a team sport, it should not be about Shubman Gill or Ashish Nehra. It should be about Gujarat Titans as a team.”
Suppose an opportunity does arise, would he be interested in taking it? “Again, it is very difficult to answer that right now,” said Nehra. “First things first, I would have to check with the High Commission – that is my wife! Otherwise, I might get a divorce.
“As we discussed earlier, international coaching involves travelling for eight or nine months a year. It is not easy. Everybody has seen that, when it comes to international coaching, not too many people have lasted more than three or four years because of the kind of demands and travelling involved. But again, we’ll see.”
Follow REVSPORTZ for more articles.
The post Shubman is a ‘work in progress’ and will grow into a better captain: Ashish Nehra appeared first on Sports News Portal | Revsportz.
JAP vs IND: Japan ready for India’s challenge with Asian Games squad
Japan have announced their squad for a historic T20I against India, with the same group set to represent the country at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya.
Japan will take on the reigning ICC Men’s T20 World Cup champions and world No. 1 India on September 22 at the Sano International Cricket Ground. The game will be a major moment for Japanese cricket as the team prepares to face one of the strongest sides in the world.
Japan’s leading T20I run-scorer, Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming, will lead the side. Ibrahim Takahashi and Declan Suzuki-McComb, who have both played more than 50 T20Is for Japan, are also part of the squad.
The team also includes some fresh faces, with Jake Kusuda-Nairn earning a place after impressing in domestic cricket. Veteran Tsuyoshi Takada will also return after making his Japan debut in 2013.
Wataru Miyauchi and Makoto Taniyama, alumni of Japanese school cricket programmes, have also been selected. Taniyama is currently Japan’s leading wicket-taker across international and pathway cricket.
Benjamin Ito-Davis will also return after recovering from a hand injury, while U19 World Cup player Charlie Hara-Hinze has also secured his place in the group.
Japan will also play Hong Kong on September 19 and 20 before beginning their Asian Games campaign.
Squad: Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming (c), Charlie Hara-Hinze, Benjamin Ito-Davis, Alester Kadowaki-Fleming, Kohei Kubota, Jake Kusuda-Nairn, Wataru Miyauchi (wk), Reo Sakurano-Thomas, Alex Shirai-Patmore (wk), Shoma Sugaya-Slater, Declan Suzuki-McComb, Tsuyoshi Takada, Ibrahim Takahashi, Makoto Taniyama, Lachlan Yamamoto-Lake.
For latest sports updates: Follow RevSportz
The post JAP vs IND: Japan ready for India’s challenge with Asian Games squad appeared first on Sports News Portal | Revsportz.