"I think we're about to see something very special from Babar Azam": Matthew Hayden

[MenInG]

Speaking in a presser:

"When the Netherlands beat South Africa it was a significant moment for us, a very significant moment for the team in general around reaching its potential"

"Lots of prayers as Pakistan woke up to see that result, 232 million people can't be wrong, and as a result of that I feel there has been very much an uplift in tempo in our group."

"It has been a roller-coaster... but I really believe we have yet to play our best game, which is a huge threat to oppositions."

"There's no question Babar has been under some adversity but that will only make him an even greater player"

"We know with the weather that when there's a lull, there's often a storm that follows, so look out rest of the world because I think we're about to see something very special from Babar."

"They got 200 on this particular wicket against Australia... New Zealand have some really destructive players and they can put you under pressure with the bat"

"They've also got a terrific, well-balanced bowling attack."

"Like New Zealand sport in general, they really punch above their weight, they believe they can win this tournament and they have the potential to do that.

"So lots of threats to our camp, no question."

 

[MenInG]

Pakistan mentor Matthew Hayden said it has been a rollercoaster ride for the Babar Azam-led team in the ongoing T20 World Cup. Pakistan were on the cusp of exit before South Africa crashed out of the tournament following a stunning loss to the Netherlands in Adelaide, allowing Pakistan to slip into the semifinals. Pakistan beat Bangladesh by five wickets, also at the Adelaide Oval.

Hayden narrated an interesting conversation from the Pakistan dugout during their last Super 12 match against Bangladesh.

“Shadab actually said a very significant thing in the dugout the other day when we were playing our last match against Bangladesh, he said ‘welcome to Pakistan cricket,’ Hayden told reporters.

“Meaning that on any given day, anything can happen. And on that particular day when the Netherlands beat South Africa, it was a significant moment for us in the tournament and a very very significant for the team in general. Lot’s of prayers helped us 232 million people can’t be wrong. The result has uplifted the tempo in our group,” he added.

Hayden also backed struggling captain Babar Azam to produce something special in the knockout stages of the T20 World Cup. Babar has managed only 39 runs in five innings so far in the tournament.

“Don’t be surprised whatsoever if you see some fireworks because very special players don’t often stay down for long,” Hayden said.

“Babar has been under some adversity, but that will only make him a greater player …. you can’t keep punching out hundreds and fifties and strike-rates of 140 plus, there’s got to be a lull.

“As with the weather, when there’s a lull, there’s often a storm that follows. So look out the rest of the world because I think you’re about to see something very special.”

Hayden compared the form of Babar and Rizwan to Adam Gilchrist’s lean patch during the 2007 ODI World Cup, and then he went on to score a century in the final against Sri Lanka

“If I can take your minds to the different world cup and that was in 2007, where Adam Gilchrist, from his standard, had quite a lean World Cup in the undefeated campaign of Australia. And if you remember the last match against Sri Lanka, he went on to score an incredible hundred and made the world realise why he is such a premium batter in that format,” he said.

Hayden particularly picked out Mohammad Haris, who came into the Pakistan team as a mid-tournament injury replacement and has scored 59 runs in two innings.

“One of the things about this kind of tournament is that pretty much the entire cricketing community is fatigued to some degree,” Hayden added.

“So to have a young, fresh face with nothing to lose, nothing really to gain, but just play with great freedom has been a wonderful expression for him personally but also for team Pakistan.”

Hayden thought the additional prospect of pacemen Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Wasim and Haris Rauf firing at the Sydney Cricket Ground gave Pakistan every chance of getting to the final, despite their poor start to the tournament.

“It has been a rollercoaster ride but I wouldn’t have it any other way because the last World Cup we went into the semi-final undefeated and Australia pipped us,” Hayden said.

“I really believe we have yet to play our best game, which is a huge threat to opposition.

“The way the middle order has stepped up to the plate has been excellent and those fast bowlers, man, there’s four of them and they come at great pace.”

https://indianexpress.com/article/s...w-hayden-welcome-to-pakistan-cricket-8255757/

 

[Sunny_majoka]

No hyden, we want same babar as he is now so, our agenda against him can be proved

 

[Rana]

No hyden, we want same babar as he is now so, our agenda against him can be proved

You think the world is stupid?

 

[MenInG]

Inshallah - this is what the mentor is supposed to do for the team.

 

[SpiritOf1903]

Golden duck?. Very hard to see him have an epiphany in the Semi Final of a major tournament

 

[Shafi]

He is a major failure in pressure match. Most probably Golden Duck or hard working below 10.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Michael Clarke used to say when he was captain, regardless of what form Clarke would be in, Shane Warne would be coming to him and say you're going to get a hundred tomorrow before every match.

 

[Adnan_Ilyas]

Hope Babar and Rizwan smash it tomorrow

 

[YousafTheBeast]

Hope Babar and Rizwan smash it tomorrow

For Pakistan to win let’s hope they don’t.

 

[asadee]

Aur pressure daalo captaan pe

 

[jnaveen1980]

Special from Babar? Advantage New Zealand in his current form. He could scratch around and get to 50 in 45 balls. Kidding. He could turn it around at the SCG.

 

[ZafarKhan2022]

Why would you publicly come out with a statement like this? Why not let him deliver first then make a statement? Why set up the possibility of over promising and under delivering? Why force Babar into a position where he's thinking about delivering "something very special" the next time he's batting?

 

[world cup captain]

That's the attitude, Hayden. We may have criticisms, likes and dislikes for certain player but at the end of the day, they are representatives of the Green Flag. Go on, Babar!

 

[alone1213]

He has golden duck already i think. i don't know what more special he can give.

 

[jiduguravindra]

Expecting 37 balls 50

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Babar needs Boult to get him back in form. A couple of floaters outside the off-stump and those cover-drives will be back, good as new.

 

[Plumb]

That's how the management should be.. back your players.. Almost all openers in the tournament are struggling its not only Babar/Rizwan. I think they should concentrate on rotating the strike more and less dot balls. It will give them confidence to play their shots.

 

[Sunny_majoka]

You think the world is stupid?

No, only Pakistani fans are stupid who are unnecessarily criticizing their best batter in the middle of tournament. Rest of the world always respect him and admire him.

 

[Colorblind Genius]

Why would you publicly come out with a statement like this? Why not let him deliver first then make a statement? Why set up the possibility of over promising and under delivering? Why force Babar into a position where he's thinking about delivering "something very special" the next time he's batting?

exactly my thoughts.
It looks like he is getting Pakistani influence after being in the team and in the dressing room environment.

He is now talking about divine help in sporting events, and as you said, "over promising" in pre-match public statements. This is not how Australians usually play.

 

[Gullycricket]

An Australian lifting sprits of the team even if he's doing it for money. Then we have people like Wasim Akram ratting out everything from dressing room or Malik and Amir wishing bad on the team so that they can make hay.

 

[Kianig89]

Excellent but seems like Rizwan speaking in the face of Matthew Hayden

 

[Rana]

No, only Pakistani fans are stupid who are unnecessarily criticizing their best batter in the middle of tournament. Rest of the world always respect him and admire him.

The Australians are calling RizBab’s 4-5 runs per over batting a shrine to the 1992 World Cup winning team btw…

 

[MenInG]

Not impressed so far!

 

[90MPH]

He’s getting this touch back.

 

[PakistanMeriJaan]

An Australian lifting sprits of the team even if he's doing it for money. Then we have people like Wasim Akram ratting out everything from dressing room or Malik and Amir wishing bad on the team so that they can make hay.

Wow. What a sad but incredibly true observation. Our ex players have historically almost always been bitter.

 

[Firebat]

Dropped first ball. Could that be a sign that it just might be his day again?

<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/e/ar7ixh" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div>

 

[SpiritOf1903]

Lab pe aati...

 

[90MPH]

Dropped first ball. Could that be a sign that it just might be his day again?

<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/e/ar7ixh" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div>

That was a cracker of a ball - swung in then seamed away off the wicket.

Babar didn’t do anything wrong there, he was trying to bat it straight.

That alone showed Babar was trying to do everything right but sometimes you get decent balls too, lucky for Babar he made sure it didn’t affect him.

 

[daytrader]

I guess the time spent in the middle by Babar in the game against Bangladesh has turned out to be a blessing as he's back in form

 

[hamzie]

Indeeeddd

 

[NeVerMind]

The Australians are calling RizBab’s 4-5 runs per over batting a shrine to the 1992 World Cup winning team btw…

You are referring to the Grade Cricketers...watch what they have to say after this performance!

(They also said that both Babar and Riz are due runs which they were right about!)

 

[shaz619]

Riswan really helped Babar during his knock, took pressure off him with his aggression and allowed Babar to play himself in. Hopefully he has taken great confidence from this and Hayden was right

 

[jnaveen1980]

Found some touch today. Seems like NZ brings the best out of him.

 

[the Great Khan]

Loving Babar getting back to form..and now that our middle order is looking good too we look formidable. Inshallah we destroy whomever we face in the final. Would be good to shatter our neighbours into pieces but I'll take whomever.

 

[Saj]

It wasn't a special innings but he hung in there.

He's not at his best but he fought it out.

There was a straight drive today which was peak Babar and that shot alone will have given him a huge lift.

 

[Plumb]

True, he is still not batting in flow like he used to... I say he is under tremendous pressure and he is trying to handle that.. Kudos for that..

this phase will make him stronger as a player.. just hang in there and you will deliver.

 

[MenInG]

Hayden after today's win:


“Tonight was very special and a few things came out for us,” Pakistan coach Matthew Hayden said after watching his openers turn on the style."

“Everyone will talk about Babar and Rizwan … the sky is the limit and both of these guys have done it for Pakistan for a number of years.”

 

[shaz619]

It wasn't a special innings but he hung in there.

He's not at his best but he fought it out.

There was a straight drive today which was peak Babar and that shot alone will have given him a huge lift.

Babar was able to play himself in because Riswan was aggressive. This is why it is essential that we need at least one aggressive opener at the top or someone who is given the license to go for it

Babar generally is a lot more fluent when his partner is playing more freely.

If his partner is playing dot after dot and not keeping the rate in good check, he is more likely to play silly shots against good deliveries

 

[kamz]

Expecting 37 balls 50

that was some call! 38 balls though, regardless what a call

 

[Abdullah]

Wow. What a sad but incredibly true observation. Our ex players have historically almost always been bitter.

True.
Haydens job right now is to make people feel 6 inches taller. A fellow pakistani would really struggle with this compared to a foreigner. Its true whether people like it or not

 

[MenInG]

Speaking after today's game:



"I would like to play India in the final purely because of the big spectacle"

"Tonight was very special. That fast bowling attack you saw did an unbelievable job. I don't think we have seen our best yet, which is probably the scarier part for whoever faces us (in the final),"

"Could be a truer surface and nicer batting track in Melbourne. Sky is the limit. You can never beat down class. Both these guys (Babar, Rizwan) have done it for a number of years. (Mohammad) Haris has smashed every bowler in the nets.

"The bowlers had to adapt to this pitch and bowl slower balls and they did so well. Haris Rauf is bowling consistent 150s.

"If Pakistan on their day turn up, they are unstoppable. Shadab is a great fighter. To win any tournament you got to fight."

https://sports.ndtv.com/t20-world-c...-india-after-victory-over-new-zealand-3504957

 

[Markhor]

Riswan really helped Babar during his knock, took pressure off him with his aggression and allowed Babar to play himself in. Hopefully he has taken great confidence from this and Hayden was right

Although I'm skeptical of these mentor roles, easy paydays for ex-players to give a few pep talks, Hayden and his shiny tind seems to radiate a positivity that our players respond to.

 

[mon858]

i have a feeling Hayden would have had influence in playing Haris.
also in telling RizBab after first 2 overs, try to play positively, which they did today.

 

[Energy]

Hayden is lucky for Pakistan. Hopefully we can get him on board in a more permanent role. Looks to have a simple modus operandi and can get along with the players.

 

[shaz619]

Although I'm skeptical of these mentor roles, easy paydays for ex-players to give a few pep talks, Hayden and his shiny tind seems to radiate a positivity that our players respond to.

Hayden speaks well and he seems genuinely invested in the team and their success, he is aware of the Dean Jones connection, and I feel that also radiated with him, so there’s more of an emotional attachment there, I believe he has spoken about this to. Bob Woolmer encyclopaedia emphasises heavily how mental batting is and I would think opening especially requires psychological strength, for a revolutionary batter to instil some of his edge in the players ought to have some effect. There’s that and if such mentors don’t work, they could always bring back Inti and have him much on samosas quietly in the corner, I think the common factor here has to be the tind.

 

[SpiritOf1903]

An unmitigated success

 

[shamaan]

Good Innings played some exceptional shots but was also helped by Rizwan during the powerplay.

 

[Kroll]

Come on Babar, show us who the King is, not this yesterday's man Kohli or the upstart SKY.

Bring it home!

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Hayden speaks well and he seems genuinely invested in the team and their success, he is aware of the Dean Jones connection, and I feel that also radiated with him, so there’s more of an emotional attachment there, I believe he has spoken about this to. Bob Woolmer encyclopaedia emphasises heavily how mental batting is and I would think opening especially requires psychological strength, for a revolutionary batter to instil some of his edge in the players ought to have some effect. There’s that and if such mentors don’t work, they could always bring back Inti and have him much on samosas quietly in the corner, I think the common factor here has to be the tind.

Don't know how genuinely invested he is in interests of Pak, even if he is doing this for his payday, it's fine as long as it's done well.

I do think he is a calming presence and is one of the best out there who knows Australian conditions. Like you said, he radiates positive energy.

Regarding Inti, I think no player would want him in the dressing room after finding out what he said in his report, Pakistani players are illiterates and don't know manners about talking and eating etc. I was pretty disgusted to find out he said this about them.

 

[sweep_shot]

Hayden is not wrong. Babar has the opportunity to make history.

 

[shamaan]

Hayden is lucky for Pakistan. Hopefully we can get him on board in a more permanent role. Looks to have a simple modus operandi and can get along with the players.

We won't be able to Offord his wage.

 

[MenInG]

Matthew Hayden speaking to the media:

“It's a very emotional campaign"

“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"

“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"

“The highs have been really solid in this tournament for Pakistan. I think there's been some really key performances for mine 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 that and building that commonality. I think that's a beautiful moment"

Speaking about Ramiz Raja’s pep-talk to the players at the net sessions ahead of the final of ICC T20 World Cup 2022, Matthew Hayden said that the PCB Chairman was reliving some memories of 1992 World Cup adding that current lot of players will have similar opportunities in their life.

“It'll be an important chapter of Pakistan cricket as the 92 campaign was the emergence of another superpower. And, 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"

“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 semi-final 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, we've enjoyed the successes and the failures, both. And, I think we're ready to play"

“Both Babar and Rizwan 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 is always better than one and that's why the great partnerships are recognized. 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 [Rizwan] and Babar. And that's it's generational and cricket as well. You know, who will ever forget that? Hey, isn't great, its partnership, you know, something which I was, and Justin [Langer], we're always like chasing that partnership. Never got there. But that's, that's in our heads was important"

“We've got four quicks that can really make 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, you know, a leg spinning option, a sixth bowling option. This Pakistan side has six genuine options that are seventh as well, you know, should Ifti [Iftikhar] be required. So, 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"

“It's on the day, who, 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 on the day, 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 sport they matter in the big games, and that's why you often see in semi-finals and finals, one side capitulate, you know beyond the point of recognition almost made, who would have thought last night team India were defeated? 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"

 

[MenInG]

Matthew Hayden speaking to the media:

“It's a very emotional campaign"

“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"

“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"

“The highs have been really solid in this tournament for Pakistan. I think there's been some really key performances for mine 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 that and building that commonality. I think that's a beautiful moment"

Speaking about Ramiz Raja’s pep-talk to the players at the net sessions ahead of the final of ICC T20 World Cup 2022, Matthew Hayden said that the PCB Chairman was reliving some memories of 1992 World Cup adding that current lot of players will have similar opportunities in their life.

“It'll be an important chapter of Pakistan cricket as the 92 campaign was the emergence of another superpower. And, 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"

“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 semi-final 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, we've enjoyed the successes and the failures, both. And, I think we're ready to play"

“Both Babar and Rizwan 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 is always better than one and that's why the great partnerships are recognized. 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 [Rizwan] and Babar. And that's it's generational and cricket as well. You know, who will ever forget that? Hey, isn't great, its partnership, you know, something which I was, and Justin [Langer], we're always like chasing that partnership. Never got there. But that's, that's in our heads was important"

“We've got four quicks that can really make 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, you know, a leg spinning option, a sixth bowling option. This Pakistan side has six genuine options that are seventh as well, you know, should Ifti [Iftikhar] be required. So, 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"

“It's on the day, who, 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 on the day, 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 sport they matter in the big games, and that's why you often see in semi-finals and finals, one side capitulate, you know beyond the point of recognition almost made, who would have thought last night team India were defeated? 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 a true believer in the Pakistan cause!