Desert silence greets Asia Cup curtain-raiser

The Sheikh Zayed Stadium, rising out of the Abu Dhabi desert like a modern marvel, is structurally state-of-the-art. Yet, to this reporter, that "art" feels strangely lifeless.

On Tuesday, it will host the Asia Cup 2025 opener between Afghanistan and Hong Kong, but on the eve of the match the venue seemed to glow with artificiality rather than the vibrancy expected of a continental showpiece.

For a tournament opener, the atmosphere around the stadium was oddly subdued. At the entrance to Abu Dhabi Sports City, it was football academies that drew the crowds, while tennis and swimming dominated the buzz. Cricket's presence was barely visible until workers were spotted hurriedly putting up Asia Cup signage in front of the Sheikh Zayed Stadium.

That lack of fanfare is hardly surprising. Cricket in the UAE remains largely confined to the South Asian expatriate community, and expecting a carnival-like setting may be asking too much.

Having covered the 2018 edition here, the muted backdrop came as no shock. But this time, the organization has thrown up oddities that extend beyond a quiet environment.

Take the official pre-tournament press conference -- or rather, the absence of one. Neither Afghanistan nor Hong Kong, who open proceedings on Tuesday, addressed the media in Abu Dhabi the day before the match. Instead, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) scheduled a joint press conference for all eight teams in Dubai on the very morning of the opener.

That means Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan and Hong Kong counterpart Yasim Murtaza must make a 300-kilometre round trip to Dubai at 11:30 am, only to return to Abu Dhabi by afternoon and then take the field in the evening heat.

In global cricket, captains' press conferences are customarily held at least a day before a tournament begins. By flouting that practice, this Asia Cup has already set a peculiar precedent.

The heat adds another challenge. Despite being September, the UAE remains blisteringly hot, with authorities restricting public movement during midday hours. Bangladesh, who arrived in Abu Dhabi on Sunday night, initially planned a full day's rest but later squeezed in a late-night fitness session to adapt.

Media manager Rabeed Imam confirmed, "All the players will attend fitness training at night."

Afghanistan, fresh from playing the tri-nation final against Pakistan in Sharjah, opted for recovery indoors. Hong Kong held their lone practice at 5 pm but, like Afghanistan, faced no official press conference before their big day.

Beyond the high-voltage India–Pakistan clash in Dubai on September 14, the rest of the tournament appears to drift into the margins. From scheduling to promotion, everything seems tilted toward that single marquee fixture.