With the Super12 stage of the ICC T20 World Cup getting closer, the excitement around the much-awaited India-Pakistan encounter has only doubled up. The neighbouring nations share an intense rivalry when it comes to cricket. However, the Indian team has always dominated Pakistan in World Cups, be it the 50-over edition or the T20 format.
It is always expected to be a close and nail-biting game when these two sides take the field against each other. More often than not, it hasn’t been the case in the recent past though. Pakistan roped in one of Australia’s greatest batters, Matthew Hayden, as their batting consultant ahead of the showpiece event. Mathew Hayden claims that this time around, no one team will run away with the game. He went on to term the clash between the two rivals as a ‘dogfight’.
Speaking about Pakistan skipper Babar Azam, he said that Babar is a premium player and has a great command with the bat. In addition, his leadership will also be crucial for them with very little margin for error. “He will be the person who every player would want to put in his pockets. There will be pressure on him both as a captain and as a batsman. But I sense that the way he will go about with it will be spot on,” Hayden was quoted as saying by ANI.
The former Australian opener also expressed his thoughts on the famed India-Pakistan rivalry. “Nothing that I have ever seen through the various elements of our game ever matches the rivalry of India and Pakistan. There is an obvious pressure much like the pressure that’s there when you play against England for Australia. But the pressure is only as much as you allow it to be. Your preparation is there, your experience is there, your opportunity now becomes a history-making opportunity,” he stated.
“We can present all the stats, do all our homework and research, but nothing can replace all the stuff that we all dream about, or coach about and commentate on which will be the game itself. I can sense that the players are waiting for that opportunity. I can sense that there is a sense of calm about that. It’s now the opportunity of playing the game,” he further added.
Along with Hayden, Pakistan also brought in former South African speedster Vernon Philander as their bowling consultant. Going into the T20 World Cup, the former left-hander said that being a part of the Pakistan dressing room was something that he would never have thought of, not even in his wildest dreams.
Leading to the preparations for the mega event, India won both their warm-up matches. They first beat England comfortably by seven wickets. Next up, they put up an even better performance against Australia, going on to win the match by eight wickets. Meanwhile, Pakistan started off with a seven-wicket triumph over defending champions West Indies. However, they lost their next game to South Africa. Both teams will open their T20 World Cup campaigns facing each other on October 24 in Dubai.
