<a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/asia-cup-2025-bangladesh-beat-afghanistan-by-eight-runs-to-stay-alive-in-tournament-23594366" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Afghanistan</a>'s star all-rounder, Gulbadin Naib, said that his team is aiming to win the Asia Cup 2025 title to bring joy to the nation, which is suffering from the destruction caused by the recent earthquake.
In the Nurgal District, Kunar Province, a 6.0 magnitude earthquake claimed more than 2,000 lives on August 31.
Speaking on the unfortunate natural calamity, the all-rounder expressed disappointment.
"Because of the situation that happened in Afghanistan, the earthquake, in which many people lost their lives...if we remember it again, it's a little bit painful. Because it's very difficult, there are not so many facilities in the country," he said.
He is hopeful that if the side manages to win the title, it would bring happiness to the faces of their countrymen.
"But still, it will be a very happy occasion for us, for our people, if we won this tournament. We can give them some happiness," Naib told PTI.
While the emotional weight of the national tragedy is heavy, Afghanistan have not lost sight of their aim to make a mark at the team's second home, the <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/asia-cup-2025-pakistan-crush-uae-by-41-runs-to-set-up-clash-with-india-on-sunday-23594553" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">UAE</a>.
"You look at the weather, it's very warm and hot. We are used to it here. It can be said that this is our second home ground in the UAE. We played a lot of cricket here, so we have no issues here," he said.
The 34-year-old insisted that in T20 <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/asia-cup-2025-pakistan-pacer-haris-rauf-opens-up-on-delayed-start-against-uae-23594600" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">cricket</a>, no team can claim to be favourite due to the unpredictable nature of the shortest format.
"There are no favourites, especially in T20 cricket. It depends on the day and how you play. If the day is in your favour, you can beat any side.
"In my opinion, there are good teams in the tournament -- India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, even the UAE and Hong Kong. Everyone is playing good cricket," he noted.
Considering the heat in Dubai, Naib said that it has become very difficult for spinners to bowl, including Rashid Khan as the hands are full of sweat, which in return makes it difficult to grip the ball.
"There is a lot of sweating. The hands are totally wet. I've seen bowlers like <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/asia-cup-2025-we-played-some-irresponsible-shots-rashid-khan-on-loss-vs-bangladesh-23594559" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Rashid Khan</a>. It's very difficult to bowl in this weather," said the 34-year-old.
"Maybe in Dubai and Sharjah it will be effective for the spinners, but not that much in Abu Dhabi," he added.
(With PTI Inputs)

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Gulbadin Naib is hopeful that if the side manages to win the title, it would bring happiness to the faces of their countrymen

Asia Cup 2025 | 'It will be a very happy occasion for us': Gulbadin Naib hopeful of clinching title

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