NEW DELHI: Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan did not mince words on Tuesday, calling the near two-hour commute from Dubai to Abu Dhabi for every match day far from "ideal" scheduling for his side.
Adding to the irony, Rashid was addressing the media in Dubai on the very morning his team was slated to face Hong Kong later that evening in Abu Dhabi.
"Well, I don't think it's ideal - that's what we were discussing [with the other captains] before as well," Rashid said during the mandatory Asia Cup press conference in Dubai.
"To play in Abu Dhabi and stay here in Dubai for all three games...it's different. But as professional cricketers, we have to accept these things," said the highest wicket-taker in T20I history.
However, Rashid, who has 170 T20I wickets to his name, admitted that as professionals, the team must put scheduling issues aside and stay focused 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 straight away."
In fact, Sri Lankan skipper Charith Asalanka also spoke about the scheduling which has left very little time for his team to relax and recuperate after a gruelling away series against Zimbabwe.
"Right now, I'm feeling very sleepy. I should answer it tomorrow I think," Asalanka said when he was asked about playing so many games with virtually no turnaround time.
"No, I mean it's really hard to play back-to-back games in Zimbabwe on September 6 and 7. And then travel here (Dubai) straightaway. I think actually we need to have a couple of days off. I hope the coach will give us.
"It's important to take care of our fitness. And we all know that it's really hot out there. And for me, it's really important to keep fresh and give 100% in the first game," Asalanka said.
(With PTI Inputs)
