T20 World Cup 2021: Matthew Hayden impressed by sporting brotherhood displayed by India and Pakistan

India lost to Pakistan for the first time in an ICC World Cup, going down by by 10 wickets in the opening Super 12 game of the T20 World Cup on Sunday.

However, one of the most endearing images from the match was of the Indian captain hugging winning team hero Mohammed Rizwan.

“The thing that inspired me the most out of the performance was the fantastic sporting brotherhood,” Hayden, who is currently working as a batting consultant with the Pakistan T20 squad, said in a video message.

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Former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, now a mentor with the team, was also seen talking to the Pakistan players including captain Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik and fast bowler Shahnawaz Dahani after the game ended.

Ever since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks in which hundreds were killed, India has largely avoided bilateral cricket ties with Pakistan, competing only in ICC events.

what a night it was, Happiness of Pakistan’s Victory and excitement of meeting one of my dream player @msdhoni can’t be forgotten.❤️???????? pic.twitter.com/CWQjm4vDKa

— Shahnawaz Dahani (@ShahnawazDahani) October 25, 2021

Hayden said Pakistan and Indian players set a good example “of how we should treat each other as people” after coming together at the end of the match.

“That’s the role of sport, so it’s beautiful to see those moments where MS Dhoni is holding court with a few of the (Pakistan) players and Virat Kohli and (Rizwan), you know, in brotherhood, joining hands after there was heated battles in the middle.”

Hayden, who was working as a commentator in the Indian Premier League, was appointed as a batting consultant by the Pakistan Cricket Board before the World Cup got underway on October 17.

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The 49-year-old was also impressed with pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi’s opening spell where he snapped the wickets of openers Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul.

“Pakistan has velocity in abundance, not just here but also back home that aren’t celebrating in this World Cup,” he said.

“Shaheen really is that one leader within the bowling group … nothing beats velocity, mixed up with some skill.”