Former Australian opening batter and Pakistan’s former team mentor, Matthew Hayden, has praised the role of Islam in instilling discipline within the current Pakistan cricket team, both on and off the field. Hayden shared his observations during commentary for the Pakistan-Australia ICC World Cup 2023 warm-up game held in Hyderabad on Tuesday.
Speaking on the subject, Hayden stated, “Well, it is very focused around Islam, which is a central and core aspect of this playing unit. The way of life within the Pakistan team contributes to a greater sense of discipline, which I greatly admire. After all, cricket is a discipline in itself. It requires commitment, investment, and consistency—all of which are values that Islam represents in the culture.”
During the high-scoring warm-up match, Australia emerged victorious by a margin of 14 runs. Despite impressive performances by Pakistan’s skipper, Babar Azam, and Iftikhar Ahmed, the Men in Green fell short in their chase of 352, marking their second consecutive loss in warm-up matches.
Pakistan is scheduled to play their first ICC World Cup 2023 match against the Netherlands at the same venue on October 6, while Australia will travel to Chennai to face India on October 8.
The ICC World Cup 2023, hosted by India, will witness ten teams vying for the coveted title across ten venues from October 5 to November 19. The tournament will commence at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, which will also host the final.
The Cricket World Cup will follow a round-robin format, with all teams competing against each other in 45 league matches. The top four teams will qualify for the semi-finals, scheduled for November 15 in Mumbai and November 16 in Kolkata. Reserve days have been allocated for the semi-finals and the final.
Pakistan’s schedule for the ICC World Cup 2023 includes matches against the Netherlands, Sri Lanka, India, Australia, Afghanistan, South Africa, Bangladesh, New Zealand, and England, promising an exciting and action-packed tournament ahead.
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