Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden has picked Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan as a key player for their team going into the ODI World Cup later this year in India, as he feels that the Pakistan spinner can be a three-dimensional cricketer for his team just like India’s Ravindra Jadeja.
Shadab Khan has been an integral part of Pakistan since he made his debut and his all-around ability gives balance to the Pakistan team. He has been in terrific form for Pakistan over the past few years. The Right arm leg spinner can be lethal with his bowling, especially in the sub-continental wickets which would assist the spinners.
While previewing the ODI World Cup 2023 in Star Sports, Matthew Hayden heaped praise on Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan as a brilliant player in white-ball format and reckons that he can be a dangerous batter in the lower middle order along with his terrific bowling and fielding for Pakistan team.
“Shadab Khan is a fantastic player. He is an individual of absolute quality. Like Ravindra Jadeja, he is a three-dimensional cricketer,” Matthew Hayden said.
“He is a dangerous hitter with the bat. He has got the variations with the ball and he is also a wonderful fielder and just one further point around this — you win World Cups by fielding efforts,” Matthew Hayden added.
The right-handed batter is one of the specialist players on the team as he can contribute to the team’s success with both bat and ball and the Men in Green will rely on him for runs at the backend of the innings in India
Many believe that Pakistan will start as one of the favourites to lift the ODI World Cup, set to be played in India in October and November, as they have got a formidable team, as they have got excellent batters and bowlers to do well in the sub-continental conditions.
Fielding Make A Big Difference In Tournament Cricket – Matthew Hayden
Matthew Hayden believes that fielding can be a crucial difference in a marquee event like World Cup, as taking important catches in the boundaries and run-outs can change the course of the tournaments and added that teams like Australia are dangerous as they handle the pressure well on the field to take some important catches at crunch moments of the game to seal some important wins in the big events.
“They are the little things that you don’t see, that make a big difference in tournament cricket. Under pressure, those catches around the boundaries, those especially unique run-outs that happen, they are the things that will never really be statistically noted in the World Cup”.
“That’s why sides like Australia are dangerous because they combine well under pressure in the one thing, an element of cricket which is the most selfless, and that’s an effort in the field,” Matthew Hayden further added.
The good fielding sides have done well in the ICC events over the years, as they seized the important moments of the games to win big matches and the fielding in the 2023 ODI World Cup will be crucial for the team’s chances to win the championship in India.