‘It’s a real dog fight’ – Matthew Hayden on India-Pakistan clash
Stadium (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
India and Pakistan will kick start their 20-20 World Cup campaign on October 24 in Dubai. Ahead of the high-profile match, former Australian opener and current batting coach of Pakistan, Matthew Hayden has opened up on the various aspects of the match. He stated that there is nothing that matches the excitement of the India-Pakistan contest.
Hayden termed the clash between the two nations as a real dog fight, adding that the margin of error is very little for both teams. According to him, Babar Azam has to lead from the front if Pakistan have to test the Indian team.
“It’s a real dog fight and the conditions and margin of error are very little and so good leadership is going to be the key and Babar commands that role and he needs to fulfill that role,” Hayden said in a virtual media conference.
“But nothing also, that I have ever seen throughout various elements of the game that I have been part of, ever matches the rivalry between India and Pakistan. There is an obvious pressure of an Indo-Pak match, as there is obvious pressure if you play against England if you are an Australian, but the pressure is only what you allow it to be.
Babar Azam has been the strongest link of Pakistan’s chain. His contributions to the team will be very important heading into the marquee event. Hayden thus feels that the Pakistan skipper will have additional pressure on him, both as a batter and as a captain.
“Babar is our premier player and will be targeted and as Chris Gayle (West Indian great) says ‘everyone wants to put him in his pocket. There is going to be additional pressure on Babar as captain and as a batsman,” Hayden added.
