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Matthew Hayden Compares Australia's Chase vs Afghanistan To Shakib-Mathews Drama

image-looet9k7The Shakib-Mathews incident has caused a huge controversy 

In a thrilling turn of events during Match 39 of the ICC World Cup 2023 at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium, Australia's pursuit of a 292-run target against Afghanistan has been marred by a dramatic collapse to 52/4 within the first 10 overs.

Hayden drew contrast between Australia's chase and Shakib-Mathews drama

The five-time world champions, renowned for their might in cricket's biggest tournament, faced an unexpected setback. Naveen-ul-Haq was pivotal in this downfall, claiming the wickets of Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh, while Azmatullah Omarzai made significant contributions by dismissing David Warner and Josh Inglis.

Amidst this high-stakes scenario, with a coveted semi-final spot at stake, renowned commentator and former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden offered a different perspective. He observed that the unfolding drama in the ongoing match sums up the essence of cricket drama at its finest.

In contrast to what he described as an ordinary drama witnessed in the previous night's game, Hayden highlighted that the current match's intensity and unpredictability were quintessential elements of what makes cricket a globally beloved sport.

"This is a good drama unlike last night, which was an ordinary drama. This is what cricket is all about,” said Hayden.

The previous night's game, which Hayden referred to was eventful, marked by a controversial incident involving Sri Lankan all-rounder Angelo Mathews. 

In an unprecedented occurrence in the 146-year history of international cricket, Mathews was dismissed for being 'timed out' during Sri Lanka's game against Bangladesh.

This unusual dismissal took place after the fall of the fourth wicket in the 25th over. Mathews, preparing to bat, encountered a malfunction with his helmet strap. 

Despite his swift attempt to fix the issue, he was unable to meet the two-minute preparation deadline, leading to his dismissal by the umpires. This decision, appealed by Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan, has since sparked a heated debate among cricket fans and experts.