DUBAI – Pakistan batting coach Matthew Hayden and Australia’s head coach Justin Langer, who are old friends, are set to engage in rivalry as Mens and Greens Shirts and Aussies to lock horn in second semi-final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Dubai tomorrow (Thursday).
Hayden and Langer while playing for Australia formed one of Test cricket’s most enduring and destructive opening partnership.
Addressing a press conference, the Pakistan’s coach said: “It is a very unusual feeling. I was a warrior for Australian cricket over two decades, so that does give me the benefit of having wonderful insights, not only into these players but also into the culture of cricket in Australia”.
“From my point of view there is the challenge of the heart, the challenge of the mind in terms of what’s going to happen over the next 24 hours, but I’ll also say very proudly that it’s been wonderful to be a part of Pakistan cricket,” he said.
“Justin Langer and myself are in similar positions, insofar as a national coach or a batting coach never wins a game of cricket. The 11 that take part in the game win the game, and we are back-up only,” he said.
Hayden has said his side was fully prepared and ready to face Australia who are chasing their maiden ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title. The two sides have previously met six times, including the 2010 semi-final where Australia won by three wickets. However, they are 3-3 on a head to head
He said: “This is an extremely important tournament for Pakistan. Lots of hard work has gone in over the past month and we’re extremely excited to be coming into the playoffs with terrific momentum, fantastic energy and great optimism.
“We face Australia tomorrow (Thursday), a country which has been incredibly proud to set high standards in terms of delivery on trophies for its country in World Cups, and this is one trophy that it’s never got in the cabinet, so lots of high-stake matches ahead of us now.”
“I think this side has got the potential as it has shown so far in the five matches.
“The highlight was the first game that we played here in Dubai against India and how under immense pressure this side delivered. I never really understood the enormity of the pressure until I was inside the dressing room.
“I think that game really set us up for what has been a really lovely four weeks of solid work, great commitment to training, great purpose in general, and also a wonderful heart connect to Islam and how spirituality has played its role within the Pakistan team as a great guide and tool for everyone to come together.”
Hayden was unconcerned about the lack of form of Fakhar Zaman, saying he was a natural fighter.
“The fact that he was in the Navy for seven years gives you a pretty strong indication of his ability to be able to fight and fight hard.
Hayden, himself an explosive and destructive opener, also shared his views on Babar Azam and termed him as stable batter with a wonderful temperament.
“Babar and his personality is what you see is what you get,” Hayden said, adding: “He’s very consistent and stable. He is not overly flamboyant and I would go as far as to say he is almost the opposite personality to someone like Virat Kohli, who is very animated, very passionate and very boisterous on the field. Babar has great control and a wonderful temperament.
“Babar Azam is highly talented and just to give you an insight into that talent, his ability to be able to consistently react to the ball is really second to none that I’ve seen. He picks up the line and the length of the ball quicker than the average cricketer and that’s the mark of someone that’s a very fine player.
“He doesn’t have to necessarily be stroking with any kind of increase or decrease in his temperament. He can remain pretty neutral. And then when he gets into the middle stages of the match, he also has the ability through just good cricket shots to find his natural tempo, which is a strike-rate of around 140, 150 and beyond.
