During a warm-up match against Australia, the discipline and unity within the Pakistani cricket team drew praise from an unexpected source. In a commentary, Matthew Hayden, the former Australian opening batter, shed light on the influence of Islam on the team’s discipline.
Hayden, a 51-year-old former cricketer, noted the similarities between the discipline inherent in the Islamic faith of the Pakistani players and that required in cricket. He emphasized the importance of commitment, investment, and consistency, both in sports and in faith.
“I greatly admire the discipline embedded in the way of life within the Pakistan team; after all, cricket itself is a testament to discipline,” Hayden expressed.
It’s worth mentioning that Matthew Hayden served as a batting consultant for the national team during the T20 World Cup in 2021 and 2022. Despite suffering defeats in both of their warm-up games for the upcoming ODI World Cup 2023 against New Zealand and Australia, the Babar Azam-led side remains hopeful. They are set to commence their World Cup campaign against the Netherlands on October 6 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad.
