The players aren’t the only ones struggling to cope with the extreme weather at the Asian Cup — the international media corps are also being tested by the conditions.

The combination of scorching temperatures, humidity and wild tropical storms has provided some unexpected challenges for foreign media.

Reporters were forced to take off their shoes and roll up their trousers to wade through deep pools of water just to get into the Rajamangala stadium in Bangkok after a huge downpour caused a flash flood in the hours before Sunday’s opening match between Thailand and Iraq.

The following day, journalists were forced to run for cover after another wild storm drenched the media tribune during the closing stages of Australia’s match against Oman.

Those hacks who braved the elements to file their reports for urgent deadlines were reduced to cowering under temporary desk tables as the rain bucketed down on them.

One Australian sportswriter’s laptop computer crashed because of water damage while another’s began to crackle and hiss as water started seeping in. One well-intentioned organiser, fearing the water might cause an electrical problem, elected to turn off the power, causing some journalists to lose their reports before they had filed them and triggering a swift and colourful reaction.

Even when the rain does stay away, there is little relief as the heat and humidity turns the stadiums into saunas. Photographers and cameraman are left drenched with sweat after spending hours under the blazing sun trying to capture the action from the edges of the pitch.

Getting around some of the cities can be notoriously difficult because of the constant gridlock, prompting some of the more adventurous wordsmiths to take their lead from the locals by hitching rides on the back of motorbikes to get to their destinations on time.

Julian Linden is in Bangkok covering the Asian Cup for Reuters