Former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden has praised the Pakistani cricket team for their discipline, both on and off the field. He attributed much of this discipline to their strong adherence to Islam. Hayden made these comments while providing commentary during a warm-up match between Pakistan and Australia for the ICC World Cup 2023 in Hyderabad.
Hayden, a former Australian batting star, pointed out that the Pakistani team’s strong focus on Islam contributes to their discipline. He admires the way of life within the team, which he believes aligns with the values of commitment, investment, and consistency—values that he sees reflected in the Pakistani team’s approach to cricket.
Despite a strong performance by their captain Babar Azam and Iftikhar Ahmed, Pakistan fell short in their attempt to chase down 352 runs, resulting in their second consecutive loss in the warm-up matches.
The ICC World Cup 2023 is scheduled to be held in India, featuring 10 teams competing for the title at 10 different venues from October 5 to November 19. The tournament will start at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, and the final will also be held there. The competition will follow a round-robin format, with all teams playing each other in 45 league matches. The top four teams will advance to the semifinals, which are scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Mumbai and Kolkata, respectively, with reserve days for these knockout matches.