Hat-trick hero Suarez fires Barca into Club World Cup final

The Uruguay forward completed his hat-trick by converting a penalty in the 67th minute. --

Reuters
________________________________________________________________________________YOKOHAMA: Barcelona's Luis Suarez got a hat-trick, including an exquisite second goal, as they strolled into the Club World Cup final with a 3-0 win over Asian champions Guangzhou Evergrande on Thursday.

The Chinese side gave the European champions a couple of scares in the first half but they were utterly outclassed by the end of a match that often resembled an attack-versus-defence training session.

Zou Zheng also suffered a horrific injury in the first half, appearing to break his leg as he fell awkwardly to the clear distress of his Guangzhou team mates.

Even without Lionel Messi, who was taken ill just hours before the game, and the injured Neymar, Barca enjoyed 75 percent of possession as they claimed a place in the final against South American champions River Plate.

Barca needed 39 minutes to break down the Guangzhou defence, Suarez pouncing to tuck in the rebound after goalkeeper Li Shaui failed to hold Ivan Rakitic's long-range drive.

The game was settled as a contest after 49 minutes when Andres Iniesta sent a beautifully-weighted pass into the area and Suarez caught it on his chest before volleying past Li in one movement.

The Uruguay forward completed his hat-trick by converting a penalty in the 67th minute as Barca fired an ominous warning to the 15,000 Argentines who have made the trip to support River Plate.

“We played a very serious, very sharp game against a complicated opponent,” said Barca coach Luis Enrique.

“These games against opponents you do not usually meet always generate doubts, especially as they have Brazilian players with quality, and we have played a really good game.”

Barca's dominance was almost embarrassing as they stroked the ball effortlessly around and not even Guangzhou's contingent of three Brazilian players could stop them.

It was the Chinese team's first defeat in 26 games under coach Luiz Felipe Scolari who took over in June.

Scolari was returning to the stadium where he led Brazil to their fifth world title in 2002, although this time he was in search of redemption after last year's 7-1 World Cup semi-final defeat to Germany on home soil in his second stint in charge.

“I want to thank the players for this fantastic year they have had,” Scolari told reporters.

“Losing 3-0 to Barcelona is no different to what other big clubs have suffered.”

News From Dawn

Flower hopes PSL stint will benefit English cricket as well

"I toured Pakistan a number of times, and i think it's really sad that we arent't playing cricket in

Pakistan," says Andy Flower.-- AFP/FILE

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Head coach of the England Lions and former Zimbabwe captain Andy Flower on Thursday confirmed his participation in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), saying that he was “looking forward to doing something different.”

“I’ve been approached to do some batting coaching for Peshawar, one of the franchises in the new Pakistan Super League,” Andy Flower, the former England Team Director, told ecb.co.uk.

“I’m looking forward to doing something different.

“I’ve chatted with Andrew Strauss about whether that’s OK from an ECB perspective and he says it is on the basis that it’s good for our English coaches to get out and about amongst some of these Twenty20 franchise competitions, to learn what’s happening outside of the domestic game in England, to interact with some of the international coaches and players, and to bring some of that knowledge back into our game in England.”

Flower, who toured Pakistan three times during his cricketing career for Zimbabwe, was saddened by the fact that there was no international cricket in Pakistan.

“I toured Pakistan a number of times as a player, and I think it’s really sad that we aren’t playing international cricket in Pakistan,” he said.

“Of course there are good reasons for that but the sooner we get back playing in Pakistan the better.

“I really enjoyed my tours anywhere in Asia and Pakistan was no different. We toured some fascinating places. Obviously the main cities but also we got out to Peshawar, we played a Test up there, we also played in Quetta, and I always found it fascinating observing another culture.”

The 47-year-old, who joins a host of former cricketers in the PSL's list of coaches, said he was looking forward to working with players from Pakistan.

“I think I’m really going to find it interesting being in amongst a group of Pakistani players and coaches, with a few international players there. I’m really looking forward to seeing how they do things, learning about them, and that should be a fascinating aspect of the three weeks or a month that we’re together.”

On December 13, the Peshawar franchise of the PSL – to be called Peshawar Zalmi – unveiled a star-studded coaching panel that will lead its campaign in the first edition of the most lucrative domestic tournament in the country’s history.

Flower has been inducted into Zalmi’s coaching panel as a batting consultant, whereas former head coach of the National Cricket Academy Mohammad Akram will take up responsibility as head coach of the unit.

Moreover, former Australia batsman Dean Jones on Monday also confirmed his signing as the head coach for PSL’s Islamabad franchise.

The 54-year-old posted a video on his official Facebook account to let his followers know about his PSL signing.

For the country’s financial capital Karachi, former South Africa and Australia coach, Mickey Arthur, was named the head coach, team owner Salman Iqbal announced two days ago.

Iqbal, who purchased the Karachi franchise for a reported amount of $26 million, picked former leg-spin great Mushtaq Ahmed as Arthur’s deputy.

The PSL is scheduled to take place from Feb 4-23, 2016 in Dubai and Sharjah, and the draft event for the inaugural edition of the league will be held on Dec 21 and 22, 2015.

With 308 top local and foreign cricketers on the draft list, the five franchise owners will select players for their respective teams.

The PSL has already finalised the sale of commercial rights for franchises, broadcast, and title sponsorship.

News From Dawn

Kaleemullah signs up with American side Tulsa Roughnecks

The 23-year-old will add another viable attacking option for tulsa coach David Irving--

Taimoor Khan

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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan forward Kaleemullah Khan has signed up with United Soccer League (USL) side Tulsa Roughnecks according to the Oklahoma based club’s official website.

Kaleemullah played last season for another USL outfit Sacramento Republic.

A number of factors, including a coaching change, restricted Kaleemullah to feature in just seven matches for the Republic.

“I am extremely humbled by the opportunity that has been given to me by Tulsa. They are a great team and play eye-catching football,” Kaleemullah said while talking to Dawn.

“I am a quick learner and after spending some time with Sacramento Republic, I have learned a lot about American style of play so I’m sure I will be in a stronger position to play well for my new team.”

“I just cant wait to meet my new teammates and the coaching staff. I’ve only heard good things about Tulsa and believe that I can make a valuable contribution to the team.”

Kaleemullah also paid tribute to his Sacramento Republic coach for giving his career a vital push.

“I would also like to thank former Sacramento Republic coach Preki for giving me a chance to play in the USL and believing in me. He is an amazing coach and I am confident that he will do a great job anywhere in the world.”

Kaleemullah's deal was made possible by Kora Stars Sports Agency, a California-based sports management firm which has a regional office in Islamabad.

“My agent Adel Saad has always pushed me to continue improving as a player and I know for sure that this new journey is going to be a great one for me. All this would not have been possible without him,” Kaleemullah said.

‘Great pace and skills’

The 23-year-old will add another viable attacking option for Tulsa coach David Irving.

“It is exciting to add Kaleemullah to our club,” said Irving.

“He is a young player with great pace and skills who has a very high ceiling in the game.

“He didn’t get much playing time last season, but his goal scoring record in past years has been phenomenal,” added the Tulsa boss.

The striker from Chaman, Balochistan kicked off his career with Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) FC in the Pakistan Premier League (PPL), spending five seasons with the squad.

In 94 appearances, Kaleemullah scored 72 goals and set a PPL record by scoring 31 goals in 2012-13 season.

He won four league titles during his five seasons with the club.

In 2014, Kaleemullah joined FC Dordoi in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

He spent one season there, leading the side to the league title while scoring 18 goals and providing 8 assists before joining Sacramento Republic FC last year.

Kaleemullah has been a regular member of the Pakistan National Team since 2011 and was named the team captain in 2014.

He has made 25 total appearances for the senior squad, scoring four times.

News From Dawn

World T20: Pumped-up Afridi eyes India scalp

"We Have a tough draw but i am hopeful that this challenge will pump-up my team to win the tittle." -- AP

KARACHI: Pakistan's Twenty20 captain Shahid Afridi on Thursday said he hoped a tough World Twenty20 draw would motivate his team to win the title for the first time in seven years and beat arch-rival India along the way.

The 2009 champions are placed in Group 2 of the Super Ten round in the sixth edition of the World T20 to be held from March 8 - April 3 2016, along with hosts India, Australia, New Zealand, and a yet to be decided qualifier.

Their second match will be against India, a team they have never beaten in either a traditional one-day World Cup or the newer World T20.

Afridi said: “We have a tough draw but I am hopeful that this challenge will pump-up my team to win the title and on the way beat India.”

Pakistan lost to India in both the group round and final of the inaugural World T20 in 2007 and then in two subsequent tournaments.

They have also lost to India every time they have faced them in six World Cups.

But Afridi said it was time for a change. “I don't want to live in history,” he said. “Whatever mistakes we usually make in the matches against India we have to overcome them.”

Pakistan's recent form does not augur well. Last month they lost to England 3-0 in a T20 series in the United Arab Emirates, slipping to six in the rankings.

“We made school boy errors and despite putting up good fights in all three matches we lost by narrow margins so we have to be on our toes and should not repeat those mistakes,” said Afridi, who is set to draw the curtain on his two-decade long career after the event.

Pakistan have three T20 matches on their tour of New Zealand next month before featuring in the six-nation Asia Cup T20 in Bangladesh in February.

“We have enough matches before the World T20 so we have to find a settled combination and I hope we do well in these matches and carry that form into the World T20.”

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