Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan and Sri Lanka’s Charith Asalanka voiced their frustrations over the Asia Cup 2025 press conference in Dubai, just hours before their respective teams’ opening matches. Rashid, ahead of Afghanistan’s clash with Hong Kong in Abu Dhabi, highlighted the logistical strain of travelling over an hour and a half immediately after attending the media session.
“I don’t think this press conference is ideal, that we have to travel from Abu Dhabi to Dubai and back on game day,” Rashid khan said. “But we have to be professional and be strong. I have traveled between cities and played matches within hours before. In other countries, you travel 3-4 hours to keep playing. You have to be mentally prepared, and that is part of being professional. For us, it’s important to give 100% on the field and leave everything else aside.”
Similarly, Sri Lankan batter-spinner Charith Asalanka expressed his displeasure at the short turnaround after their series against Zimbabwe. Speaking with a hint of humour, he admitted the schedule left him sleep-deprived and wishing for some rest before responding to media queries.
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“Playing back-to-back matches from Zimbabwe to now is very hard. I wish I had a couple of days off and hope the coach agrees. The conditions are tough, too, it will be hot. I am sleepy right now… I want to answer this tomorrow! All jokes aside, we are well prepared and want to hit the ground running,” Charith Asalanka said.
Rashid Khan also underlined Afghanistan’s readiness, despite a recent loss to Pakistan in the tri-series final. He emphasised the team’s balance and focus on controllable aspects of the game.
“Whenever you come into a big competition, you come well prepared. We are a well-balanced team. In the end, it’s the effort you put on the field that counts. For us, it is important to focus on what we can control—the performance on the field—and we plan on doing just that,” he added.
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Both leaders’ candid remarks shed light on the physical and mental demands placed on players during tightly scheduled tournaments like the Asia Cup, highlighting the importance of preparation and focus despite external pressures.
