World Cup 2023: Matthew Hayden Says Pakistan Team Disciplined Because of Islam, Gets Slammed by Netizens
When cricket fans watched former Australia opening batsman Matthew Hayden discussing the influence of Islam on Pakistan's cricketing culture, social media went crazy. He made these comments alongside former PCB chief Ramiz Raja during the World Cup 2023 warm-up match between Australia and Pakistan on Tuesday in Guwahati.
As Pakistan's squad mentor for the men's T20 World Cup in Australia last year, Hayden had a close-up view of Babar Azam & Co.
"Well, it's heavily centred on Islam, which is essential to this playing group. As a result of the fact that cricket is a discipline in and of itself, I genuinely like the way the Pakistani squad lives. Hayden made these remarks while co-anchoring on Star Sports with Ramiz Raja.
-Ramiz Raza and Matthew Hayden promoting Islam during warm up match of world cup
— BALA (@rightarmleftist) October 4, 2023
-Hayden was Batting consultant of Pakistan team during 2022 T20 World Cup
-Both are promoting personal religious beliefs in commentary funded by ICC which is eventually funded by BCCI
-Hopefully… pic.twitter.com/stxjPJkf4L
With Hayden and Raja in it, the video clip has now gone popular on social media. The former Australian cricket player's comment has been welcomed by the Pakistani media and populace, but it didn't sit well with Indian supporters, who are now criticising Matthew Hayden on social media.
Matthew Hayden expressed his belief that Islam has played a significant role in instilling discipline within the current Pakistan cricket team, both on and off the field
— Cricket Pakistan (@cricketpakcompk) October 4, 2023
Read more: https://t.co/ndTxRaLbwG#worldcup2023 pic.twitter.com/5oT8MDoFDv
This is not the first time a pundit has found themselves in hot water for saying something that, from a cricketing standpoint, is pointless or unimportant.
When South Africa and Sri Lanka were playing a Test match in Colombo in 2006, broadcasters Ten Sports fired former Australia batter Dean Jones for referring to Hashim Amla as a "terrorist" on live air. Jones said as soon as Amla made the catch to get rid of Kumar Sangakkara. Religious or commercial promotion is prohibited at multi-nation competitions by the ICC.
Why is this Commentary between Ramiz Raja and Mathew Hayden openly promoting & glorifying IsIam being allowed??? This is a Cricket World Cup Match not some Religious gathering that such sermons be given pic.twitter.com/U7C3urJQZ6
— Rosy (@rose_k01) October 4, 2023
The multi-nation tournament organisers are never permitted by the International Cricket Council (ICC) to promote their religion or business. When MS Dhoni wore the dagger symbol on his wicket-keeping gloves back in 2019, the ICC objected, sparking controversy.
In 2019, during India's World Cup opening match in Southampton against South Africa, Dhoni's keeping gloves had an Army-inspired dagger emblem.