The absence of controversy in Pakistan cricket is not common, as disputes occasionally arise even within the national team. However, Matthew Hayden has praised the discipline within the Pakistan national cricket team. Australian cricket legend Hayden has attributed this discipline to the influence of the Islamic faith.
Hayden has observed Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan closely and has had a role within the coaching staff of the Pakistan national team during the 2021 and 2022 T20 World Cups. He served as a batting consultant during the 2021 T20 World Cup and acted as a mentor in the subsequent World Cup. During the preparation match between Pakistan and Australia in Hyderabad, Hayden praised the discipline of the Pakistan national team.
In the lead-up to this World Cup match, Hayden also shared his thoughts with Rameez Raja, the former Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), and a former cricketer. Rameez Raja wanted to know about Hayden’s experience working with the Pakistan team. Hayden, who is 51 years old, mentioned that the players in the Pakistan team are very devoted to the Islamic faith, which is the foundation of their team’s values. He praised this commitment and emphasized that cricket is a game rooted in discipline. He added that players must be committed, dedicated, and disciplined to represent the team and its culture effectively.
In the preparation match, Pakistan lost to Australia by 14 runs. Babar Azam’s team also faced defeat in the previous warm-up match. However, their batting performance was not a concern. In the first preparation match against New Zealand, Pakistan scored 345 runs but couldn’t secure a victory. New Zealand won with 345 runs, losing 5 wickets in just 38 balls. In the recent match, Australia scored 351 runs and Pakistan was all out for 337 runs in 47.4 overs. Pakistan will start their World Cup campaign by facing the Netherlands on Friday.
