Pakistan team mentor Matthew Hayden was overjoyed with the Men in Green’s fantastic 7-wicket win over New Zealand in the first semi-final to make it to the final of the ICC T20 World Cup 2022.
Pakistan reached the semi-finals of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2022 with some luck, as the Netherlands’ remarkable win over South Africa paved the way for the Men in Green to go through to the final round after three consecutive wins following early setbacks in the tournament in Australia.
On Wednesday, November 9, the Babar Azam-led Pakistan team handed New Zealand a clinical defeat of 7 wickets in the first semifinal to book a summit clash date with either England or India to be played on Sunday (November 13) at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
After Pakistan reached the final, Hayden said that he would like to see the title battle between the two arch-rivals at the MCG while hailing Pakistan openers Babar Azam (53) and Mohammad Rizwan (57) for their performance against New Zealand at the SCG on Wednesday.
Notably, Team India will have to beat England in the second semifinal in Adelaide on November 10 to seal a T20 World Cup 2022 final berth, and Hayden is elated with that prospect.
Matthew Hayden told broadcasters Star Sports: “Fantastic. Tonight, was very special and a few things came out for us. Everyone will talk about Babar and Rizwan, but that bowling attack did an unbelievable job. Sky is the limit and both of these guys have done it for Pakistan for a number of years and I also want to mention Haris as well. He faces every fast bowler in the nets and smashes them.”
He signed off by saying, “On this surface, the bowlers had to adapt and we got Shaheen back up and running. Once it starts to reverse-swing, boy! he's hard to handle. Haris can bowl 150kph.”
On his preferred opponent for the final, Hayden said, “I'd like to face India, pretty much because of the spectacle. It's unthinkable.”
