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Matthew Hayden compares Shadab Khan with Ravindra Jadeja

Australian worked with the Pakistan team in the last two World Cups

By Web Desk

July 02, 2023

Ravindra Jadeja (L) and Shadab Khan (R) - AFP

Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden has compared Pakistan’s all-rounder Shadab Khan with Indian cricketer Ravindra Jadeja ahead of the ICC World Cup this year.

Hayden, who worked closely with the Pakistan team as batting coach during the last two T20 World Cups, believes that the duo can make in impact in all three departments, batting bowling and fielding, of the game.

“Shadab Khan is a fantastic player. He is an individual of absolute quality. Like Jaddu [Ravindra Jadeja], he is a three-dimensional cricketer," Hayden told Star Sports.

“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.

“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.”

It must be noted that the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the schedule for this year's World Cup in India on Tuesday.

Pakistan's first two matches in the event will be against qualifiers on October 6 and 12, respectively.

The Men in Green will face arch-rivals India on October 15 in Ahmedabad.

10 teams will fight for the elusive title across 10 venues from October 5 to November 19, with the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad hosting the tournament opener and the final.