Pakistan’s chance to ignite and revitalise nation in T20 final: Matthew Hayden

• Matthew Hayden, Pakistan’s coach, says the T20 World Cup is a chance for the team to re-energize the nation.
• The former Australian cricketer believes the T20 World Cup final between Pakistan and England on Sunday will be a duel between bowling and batting

“It’s a very emotional campaign,” he said about Pakistan.

“When it comes to these huge tournaments, we know what it means. It means the opportunity to lift the World Cup, it means the opportunity to set nations alight and alive again, reinvigorate a nation through its national team’s performance,” he said.

Hayden praised the team’s cohesiveness and off-field behaviour.

“A beautiful metaphor for this team that really, at its heart has got raw talent, mixed with the passion of a nation that loves the game,” he remarked.

“The highs have been really solid in this tournament for Pakistan. I think there have been some really key performances…for me, the other day was off the field when Babar was throwing in warm-up balls to Rizwan, to me, that’s very reflective of a culture that’s working, hoping and building that commonality. I think that’s a beautiful moment,” he said.

Hayden stated Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Ramiz Raja’s pep-talk to the players at the net sessions before the T20 World Cup final was reminiscent of the 1992 World Cup and that many current players will have similar opportunities.

“It’ll be an important chapter of Pakistan cricket as the 92 campaign was the emergence of another superpower. One of the most influential cricketers of all time, Imran Khan, is doing great things, celebrating democracy is an important part of life, and he’s doing that like a champion,” the mentor of the team said.

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Hayden said there’s been a lot of great energy and some deserved criticism for an international team.

“I think you can’t come to a tournament like this and expect to have it your entire way. Our last campaign was very smooth in the T20 World Cup, we won every game convincingly, sort of clinical like we saw our semifinal performance, but that doesn’t necessarily mean anything until you strike the big game. So here we are in the big game. We’ve taken on board the criticisms, and we’ve enjoyed the successes and the failures, both. And I think we’re ready to play,” he said.

He hailed Pakistan’s opening combo Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam, saying their performance reflects their off-field chemistry.

“Both are very good leaders. Both men are highly geared towards nationalistic pride, and their commitment to Islam as well, they’ve got each other’s backs, two are always better than one and that’s why great partnerships are recognised. That’s why you’ll see every player stand up with a 50 or 100-run partnership because it matters.”

“These are key factors for Rizzi and Babar. And that it’s generational and cricket as well. You know, who will ever forget that? Hey, isn’t great, it’s a partnership, you know, something which I was, and Justin, we’re always like chasing that partnership. Never got there. But what’s in our heads was important,” he said.

The former Australian cricketer suggested Sunday’s final between Pakistan and England would feature quick bowling vs. batting.

“We’ve got four quicks that can really make an impact and create some sustainable damage inside 20 overs. One of the things that I think that India was really missing last night also in the spin bowling department was a leg-spinning option, a sixth bowling option.

“Pakistan side has six genuine options that are seventh as well, should Ifti be required. I think the bases are covered. I think both sides actually have got very equal setups when you look at the England setup as well. They’ve got genuinely six bowling options and the handy options of having batting all-rounders as well,” he said.

Hayden said teams do their homework before each game, so it doesn’t matter if two sides have previously played. That’s why the cliche in sports is that it’s the day that matters.

He asked, “Is it 100%?”

“It’s on the day who handles the pressure, it’s on the day who’s got their game preparation spot on. It’s on the day who can handle their emotions, and how their own individual games set up the play. It’s how they start and then it’s also how they finish. So, you know all those cliches of the sport, they matter in the big games, and that’s why you often see in semifinals and finals, one side capitulates beyond the point of recognition almost made, who would have thought last night India were defeated wicketless. So anything can happen. But generally, you got to have your stuff together and I think team Pakistan has done that well over the last couple of weeks,” Hayden concluded.

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