Rashid Khan Slam Presser Schedule
Rashid Khan and Charith Asalanka criticised the timing of the Asia Cup press conference in Dubai ahead of the tournament opener.
Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan and Sri Lanka spinner Charith Asalanka voiced their displeasure at the Asia Cup 2025 press conference in Dubai, held just hours before the opening match between Afghanistan and Hong Kong in Abu Dhabi.
Rashid said the arrangement was far from ideal as both he and Hong Kong skipper Yasim Murtaza had to travel almost one and a half hours after the presser to reach Abu Dhabi for the game.
“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 said. “But we have to be professional and be strong. I have travelled between cities and played matches within hours. In other countries, you travel 3-4 hours to keep playing. You have to be mentally prepared, and that is about being professional. For us, it’s important to keep giving 100% and doing the best we can and leaving everything else to the side.”
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Asalanka also criticised the schedule, jokingly admitting he was struggling with fatigue after Sri Lanka’s recent series against Zimbabwe.
“Playing back-to-back matches from Zimbabwe to now is very hard. I wish I had 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,” he said.
Rashid further highlighted that his team, coming off a loss in the tri-series final against Pakistan, is focused and balanced. “Whenever you come into a big competition, you come well prepared. We are a well-balanced team. But in the end, it is the effort you put on the field that counts. For us, (it is) important to focus on the future. Just control what is controllable, what you do on the field is what you can control, and we plan on doing just that,” Rashid added. Afghanistan will face Hong Kong in the opening match of the Asia Cup at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
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Last Updated on September 9, 2025
