T20 World Cup 2021: Matthew Hayden Gives A Clarification On His Remark Of "Indian Batters Facing 130 Kmph Deliveries During IPL"
Published - 29 Oct 2021, 06:04 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 01:00 AM
Matthew Hayden, who is the batting consultant of the Pakistan team for the T20 World Cup, has explained a remark he had stated after Babar Azam’s team defeated India in their T20 World Cup opener Dubai.
Shaheen Afridi dismantled the Indian batting with three wickets – Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and Virat Kohli – as Pakistan registered their first-ever win over India in World Cups.
After the game, Matthew Hayden told Fox Cricket, “They (the Indian batters) had been facing 130km/h deliveries for the last month during the IPL. It’s a different cup of tea when you are facing someone running and bowling at Shaheen Shah Afridi’s pace.”
He did receive some flak for this remark, with fans pointing out that there were few high pace and quality seamer in the IPL.
In the same regard, the former Australia opener has now admitted that “Most IPL teams do have a genuine speedster,” he commented on an Instagram post, while also citing the names of Anrich Nortje, Lockie Ferguson, Mohammad Siraj, and Avesh Khan.
They were the best two balls that I’ve seen in five weeks: Matthew Hayden
Shaheen Afridi trapped Sharma lbw for a duck, before castling Rahul, both with terrific in-swingers. He then deceived Kohli with a slower short delivery with the old ball to set up Pakistan’s victory.
Matthew Hayden was effusive in praise for the left-arm seamer.
“They were the best two balls that I’ve seen in five weeks. A fast in-swinging yorker and the courage that it takes to bowl that delivery against Rohit Sharma with the new ball is admirable.
“I don’t think I have not seen the ball hitting Rahul’s middle of the bat in five weeks and then he gets that delivery. That was like the two punch combination that sent India on the backfoot in the powerplay,” the Australian added.
Pakistan have won both their matches – against India and New Zealand – and are a shoo-in the semi-final. India and New Zealand will face off on Sunday in Dubai.
