Former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden expressed his admiration for the discipline within the Pakistani cricket team, attributing it to the influence of Islam. He made these comments while providing commentary during the Pakistan-Australia ICC World Cup 2023 warm-up match in Hyderabad. Hayden stated, “Well, it is very focused around Islam, which is a central and core element of this team. The way of life in the Pakistan team fosters greater discipline, which I greatly appreciate since cricket itself is a discipline.”
During the commentary, he added, “You have to be committed, invested, and consistent — these are all qualities that Islam represents within the culture.”
Despite impressive performances by captain Babar Azam and Iftikhar Ahmed, Pakistan fell short in their chase of 352 runs, losing to Australia by 14 runs in the high-scoring match.
In their first World Cup game on October 6, Pakistan will face the Netherlands at the same venue, while Australia will play against India in Chennai on October 8.
The ICC World Cup 2023 is scheduled to take place in India, featuring 10 teams competing for the coveted title across 10 venues from October 5 to November 19, with the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad hosting the tournament opener and the final.
The tournament will follow a round-robin format, with all teams playing against each other in 45 league matches. The top four teams will qualify for the semi-finals, which will be held in Mumbai on November 15 and in Kolkata on November 16, with reserve days allocated for the semi-finals and final.
