Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan has openly questioned the scheduling and logistics of the 2025 Asia Cup, pointing to the challenges his team faces in traveling for every group-stage match.
Speaking at the mandatory captains’ press meet, attended by Asian Cricket Council chief Mohsin Naqvi, Rashid described the arrangement as “not so ideal.”
He added that while it was a subject of discussion among the captains, his focus remains on adapting as a professional.
“To play in Abu Dhabi and stay here in Dubai for all three games… it’s different. But once you enter the ground, you forget everything else,” said the world’s leading T20I wicket-taker, who has 170 scalps.
Afghanistan’s schedule sees them take on Bangladesh on September 16 and Sri Lanka on September 18. Rashid admitted the travel and turnaround are inconvenient but compared it to other international experiences where players have flown long distances and played immediately.
Both captains’ remarks have underlined the strain placed on players in an already packed cricketing calendar. With temperatures soaring in the UAE, fitness management has become just as crucial as tactical planning. While Afghanistan enter the Asia Cup eager to build momentum, their road begins with logistical hurdles.
Afghanistan vs Hong Kong Squads:
Hong Kong Squad: Zeeshan Ali(w), Babar Hayat, Nizakat Khan, Anshuman Rath, Martin Coetzee, Yasim Murtaza(c), Aizaz Khan, Nasrulla Rana, Ehsan Khan, Ali Hassan, Ateeq Iqbal, Kalhan Challu, Ayush Shukla, Kinchit Shah, Mohammad Waheed, Shahid Wasif, Mohammad Ghazanfar
Afghanistan Squad: Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Sediqullah Atal, Ibrahim Zadran, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Karim Janat, Rashid Khan(c), Noor Ahmad, AM Ghazanfar, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Naveen-ul-Haq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Mohammad Ishaq, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Gulbadin Naib