Salman Ali Agha, the captain of Pakistan, thinks his team may win a third Asia Cup title later this month because of their recent victory in the tri-series against Afghanistan and the United Arab Emirates.

Days before the Asia Cup began, Pakistan’s remarkable recent run in the shortest format continued with a 75-run triumph against Afghanistan in the tri-series final, driven by a game-winning performance by all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz.

Since Mike Hesson took over as white-ball coach in May, Pakistan has already won ten of their previous thirteen Twenty20 International matches. Ali Agha believes his team is gaining momentum ahead of their opening Asia Cup encounter against Oman on September 12.

Ali Agha stated during the post-match presentation at the tri-series final, “This series was tough for us here in Sharjah, but our focus was always on preparing for the Asia Cup.”

“Winning was obviously our top priority, but preparing was more important.

Since the Bangladesh series, we’ve been improving as a team. We’re doing well, and I think we’re prepared for the Asia Cup.”

Experienced all-rounder Nawaz, who won Player of the Series for the whole tri-series with 12 runs and 10 wickets, including an incredible five-wicket haul in the final against Afghanistan, is one player who is excelling under Hesson’s guidance.

By dismissing Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, and Ibrahim Zadran with three consecutive deliveries in two overs, Nawaz became just the third Pakistani men’s bowler to achieve a T20I hat-trick, joining Faheem Ashraf and Mohammad Hasnain as the only other bowlers to do so. Nawaz claimed figures of 5/19 to help destroy Afghanistan’s well-known batting order.

Ali Agha was gushing about Nawaz and said he thinks his team is doing well because he has a variety of spin options at his disposal.

“Nawaz has been exceptional since his return, performing well in the field, with the bat, and with the ball.

“Nawaz is the type of player we can depend on in difficult circumstances.

“Playing two spinners was a hot topic on social media and even among former cricket players.

“But for us, conditions always determine the choice. On the day, we evaluate the pitch before making a decision. Playing two spinners was effective today.

After missing time due to injury, Lionel Messi made his Inter Miami comeback and scored in just two minutes after coming on as a second-half replacement in Saturday’s 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Union.

After suffering an adductor injury during Miami’s most recent Major League Soccer match, a 2-1 victory at Atlanta on March 16, Messi had missed Argentina’s World Cup qualifying matches in South America during the most recent international window.

After Jordi Alba broke down the left flank, Robert Taylor, a Finnish winger, scored a low feed from Benjamin Cremaschi to give Miami the lead in the twenty-third minute.

Coach Javier Mascherano substituted Messi in the 55th minute, and two minutes later, Messi scored. Messi was selected on the right by Luis Suarez, a former Barcelona colleague, and he ducked to create space before putting a low, right-footed attempt into the far corner.

Hungarian midfielder Daniel Gazdag brought the ball down before putting in a clean shot in the 80th minute after Quinn Sullivan whipped in a cross from the right, giving Philadelphia a goal back.

With four victories from their first five games of the season, Miami leads the Eastern Conference.

Inter will have a busy week ahead of them as they travel to Los Angeles to play LAFC in the opening leg of their CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinal on Wednesday. The following Sunday, they play at home against Toronto, and three days later, they play again against LAFC.

Mascherano claimed that starting with Messi on the bench had been a calculated decision.

“We didn’t want to risk him from the start because we thought he might be at risk playing the whole game, but we did want him to get some minutes,” stated the coach from Argentina.

“He is expected to recuperate and make it to Los Angeles. He was fine, so he played today. It was beneficial for him to play 45 minutes, even though he might not have been prepared for the entire 90. The goal is for him to travel if nothing out of the ordinary occurs,” he continued.

– Seven goal thriller –

Atlanta United fell behind 3-1 against New York City FC at home in a thrilling seven-goal match after Wolff gave the visitors two goals before Keaton Parks’ own goal pulled them even.

However, with fifteen minutes left, a header from Miguel Almiron, who rejoined the team from Newcastle United during the preseason transfer window, tied the score for Atlanta.

Another newcomer, Ivorian forward Emmanuel Latte Lath, who joined from Middlesbrough for a club record $22 million, took advantage of slack defense to score the game-winning goal in the 84th minute to make it 4-3.

The Columbus Crew defeated DC United 2-1 thanks to two goals from Uruguayan striker Diego Rossi, while Minnesota United defeated Real Salt Lake 2-0 thanks to two goals from Canadian attacker Tani Oluwaseyi.

The New England Revolution defeated the New York Red Bulls 2-1, with Spanish midfielder Carles Gil scoring the game-winning penalty kick in the seventh minute of stoppage time.

Before former Bayern Munich forward Eric Choupo-Moting tied the score for the Red Bulls, Gil had opened the scoring for New England with an incredible free-kick.

Despite their displeasure at having to play their match on Thursday, Barcelona easily defeated Osasuna 3-0 to take a three-point lead at the top of La Liga.

Although the Catalans‘ appeal against the game’s rescheduling was denied, Hansi Flick’s team, who had won 19 straight games in all competitions, easily defeated Osasuna, who are now in 14th place.

Robert Lewandowski scored after the interval, while Ferran Torres and Dani Olmo scored in the first half.

Despite missing their star winger Raphinha, who played for Brazil in World Cup qualifying on Wednesday in South America, Barcelona dominated the Olympic stadium.

Although Flick was pleased with the win, he acknowledged that Olmo’s injury meant it had a price.

Flick told reporters, “We have three more points, but we paid a really high price with Dani’s injury.”

“We don’t know how long he will be out but if it’s two weeks, he’ll miss a lot of games and if it’s three weeks even more.”

Originally scheduled for March 8, the game was postponed owing to the death of a Barcelona club physician.

Jules Kounde of France is one of the players who played 120 minutes for his country on Sunday before coming back to play.

Kounde informed DAZN that choosing this date was disrespectful to the club.

“We’re not machines and to play our game and give the fans what we want, we need rest.”

To great success, Flick switched Torres with experienced striker Lewandowski, who was placed on the bench.

“Every game is a final, so today’s was a final, it was important for us,” Torres informed DAZN.

Barcelona took control of the match right away, and after 11 minutes, Torres gave them the lead.

Alejandro Balde got the ball on the left, and Frenkie de Jong led the way as Barcelona cleverly passed it around.

A dangerous low ball was pushed into the six-yard box by the full-back, who was in excellent form, and Torres sprinted in to stab home.

Teenage revelation Lamine Yamal should have given the Spaniard a second when she flicked a beautiful ball over the top for him, but Sergio Herrera made a great save.

The second goal for Barcelona came halfway through the first half when the goalie hauled down Dani Olmo.

Low to his right, Herrera stopped Olmo’s spot kick, but an Osasuna player encroached, forcing a retake, and this time the playmaker made no mistakes.

“Rolled over us” –

 With this win, Barca begins a demanding run of nine games in 28 days across all competitions. A few minutes later, Olmo was substituted out injured, and Flick was furious on the sidelines.

As Barcelona maintained their dominance and midfield master Pedri Gonzalez dominated the game, Torres blasted a free-kick against the crossbar.

Barcelona was happy with their lead in the second half, so it was a low-key affair until Lewandowski replaced Torres, eager to join in.

After a brief break, the seasoned Polish striker headed home Fermin Lopez’s cross to increase Barca’s lead and put himself at the top of Spain’s scoring statistics with 23 league goals.

With their victory, Barcelona closed the gap on champion Real Madrid, while third-place Atletico is now seven points behind.

Real Madrid hosts Leganes on Saturday, Atletico visits Espanyol, and Barcelona hosts Girona in a Catalan derby on Sunday.

In their last seven games in all competitions, Osasuna, led by Vicente Moreno, has not won.

“We’ve been in the dumps for a long time, and we’re not doing well,” stated Ruben Garcia of Osasuna.

“We faced a team that rolled over the top of us, we have to recognise that and try to do better.”