The captain of the Afghan national cricket team Rashid Khan and the Skipper’s national cricket team of Sri Lanka Charith Asalanka criticized the exhausting hours of the Asian 2025 Cup.
Rashid Khan expressed his frustration in the face of planning and logistical arrangements for the competition, because Afghanistan would be based in Dubai and would travel almost two hours in Abu Dhabi on match days.
Right now, I feel very sleepy – Charith Asalanka
On Tuesday, September 9, all the interactions of the photoshoot and the media of all the captains were organized by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) before the Asian 2025 Cup.
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Charith Asalanka joined the events after playing consecutive T20is in Zimbabwe on September 6 and 7 and horare traveler via South Africa a few hours earlier for the Asian Cup.
Asulanka openly said at the press conference that he had been very asleep, causing laughter in the room and underlined the need to stay cool in front of the opening of Sri Lanka.
“I should answer this question tomorrow, I think,” said Asalanka with an ironic smile, as quoted by Espncricinfo. “Right now, I’m feeling very sleepy. It is really difficult to play consecutive matches and travel right away. I think we really need a few days off. I hope the coach will give us [that].
“It is important to take care of our fitness. And we all know that it is really hot there. For me, it is really important to stay fresh and give 100% in the first match,” he said.
Sri Lanka will open its Asia Cup 2025 campaign against the Rivals of Bangladesh on September 13.
Well, I don’t think it’s ideal – Rashid Khan
Sri Lanka will rest before their first match in the competition, but Afghanistan does not have this luxury when they play their first tournament round on September 9 after playing the trial final on September 7 against Pakistan.
Addressing the media, Rashid Khan openly declared that the constant trip of Afghanistan between Dubai and Abu Dhabi was not ideal, but clearly indicated that they will not complain.
“Well, I don’t think it’s ideal – that’s what we are talking about [with the other captains] Before, “said Rashid Khan.” To play Abu Dhabi and stay here in Dubai for the three games … It’s different. But as professional cricket players, we have to accept these things.
Once you have entered the ground, you tend to forget everything else. In other countries, we often fly two to three hours and go directly to the game. I remember stolen from Bangladesh in the United States once and have played right away. “”
You must be well prepared and mentally very strong – Rashid Khan
Rashid Khan also said they had to be mentally and physically prepared for the Asia Cup 2025 challenge and not focus on negatives.
“You must be well prepared and mentally very strong, which is why we are professionals,” he said.
“If you start to complain about these things, to travel a lot, it affects your performance in the field. For us, the goal is to make the effort once we enter inside. Wherever we go, we try to forget everything that happens outside and to adapt. The most important thing is to give 100% and win the game.”
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