Dubai, Sept. 9 -- Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka invoked laughter around the room during the captain's press conference hours before the Asia Cup opener by expressing that he felt "very sleepy". But his subtle joke highlighted the brutal truth about the journey that he had travelled to be present for the sub-continent's biggest cricketing tournament.

"Right now, I'm feeling very sleepy. I should answer this question tomorrow, I think. It's really hard to play back-to-back games and then travel straightaway. I think we actually need a couple of days off. I hope the coach will give us [that]," Asalanka said with a wry smile as quoted from ESPNcricinfo.

"It's important to take care of our fitness. And we all know it's really hot out th...