Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan criticises scheduling and logistical arrangements of Asia Cup ahead of opener
Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan has criticised the scheduling and logistical arrangements of the Asia Cup 2025 in the UAE.
New Delhi: Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan has criticised the scheduling and logistical arrangements of the Asia Cup 2025 in the UAE. During the Asia Cup press conference ahead of the beginning of the tournament, Rashid said that staying in Dubai and travelling for nearly two hours for the matches in Abu Dhabi is not at all ideal.
Afghanistan will lock horns against Hong Kong in the first match of the continental tournament at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday while reigning champions India play their first game against hosts UAE on Wednesday. What was more ironical was that Rashid attended the press meet in Dubai in the morning and had to travel to Abu Dhabi with his team the same day for the match in the evening.
At the press conference which was attended by the captains of all the eight teams, Rashid strongly brought up the point saying that he was discussing the same things with all the other skippers. Calling the situation 'not so ideal', the Afghanistan skipper, who is the highest wicket-taker in the T20 format, said that the scheduling and logistical arrangements for the showpiece event could have been better.
Not ideal scheduling: Rashid Khan
The press meet ahead of the beginning of the tournament was also attended by Asian Cricket Council (ACC) head and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi. 'To play in Abu Dhabi and stay here in Dubai for all three games is different. But as professional cricketers, we have to accept these things,' said the highest wicket-taker in T20I history.
After the opening match, Afghanistan's other two group B matches are scheduled on September 16 and 18 against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka respectively. Acknowledging the challenge, he said that they as professionals need to forget the scheduling and other problems and just focus on the game.
'Once you enter the ground, you tend to forget everything else. In other countries, we often fly two-three hours and go straight to the game. I remember flying from Bangladesh to the US once and playing straightaway.'
Defending champions India lock horns with hosts UAE in the second match of the tournament in Dubai on Wednesday.