Hayden said players have set an example “of how we should treat each other as people”.
Pakistan batting consultant Matthew Hayden has on Monday (October 25) shared his first experience of being part of the biggest rivalry in cricket between India and Pakistan after the big encounter in the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 in Dubai on Sunday, October 24.
Hayden was really impressed by the sporting brotherhood on display after the heated battle between the arch-rivals in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2021. He referred to the India-Pakistan matches as the ‘Holy Grail’ while describing the atmosphere in the Pakistan dressing room as euphoric.
Even the former Australian cricket went on to claim that he was inspired by the display of sporting brotherhood between India and Pakistan after Men in Great defeated Team India by 10-wickets on Sunday to break its run of 12 losses in World Cups – both ODI and T20.
He further mentioned that watching MS Dhoni, India mentor for T20 Word Cup, holding court with Pakistan players including Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, and Shahnawaz Dahani, while Kohli embracing Mohammad Rizwan soon after the match was beautiful and fantastic to watch.
The Aussie also said Pakistan and India players set an example for how people should be treated as well despite the political tension between the sub-continental neighbors.
Hayden said in a video shared by Pakistan cricket on Twitter: “India-Pakistan is the holy grail of the sporting calendar. Sitting inside that changing room in Dubai last night, I have seen nothing like I saw last night. The scenes were phenomenal. There is a lot of euphorias but inside the change room, I have never seen a more disciplined and humble approach to winning. There was such great humility.”
He further added, “The thing that inspired me the most out of the performance was the fantastic sporting brotherhood. That’s the role of sport, so it’s beautiful to see those moments where M. S. Dhoni is holding court with a few of the (Pakistan) players and Virat Kohli and (Rizwan), you know, in brotherhood, joining hands after there was a heated battle in the middle.”
Hailing Pakistan’s bowling attack, the Aussie note: “Pakistan has velocity in abundance, not just here but also back home that isn’t celebrated in this World Cup. Shaheen Afridi really is that one leader within the bowling group… nothing beats velocity, mixed up with some skill.”
Hayden signed off by saying, “Great humility from our perspective inside the change rooms, not getting carried away too much with the celebrations, but just this great humility, this great sense of spirit and great sense of purpose moving into the next game against New Zealand.”
(With AP Inputs)