Shadab Khan is a three-dimensional player like Ravindra Jadeja: Matthew Hayden

Former Australia cricketer Matthew Hayden was full of praises for Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan, saying that he possesses skills like Ravindra Jadeja. Notably, the Aussie legend is well-versed with Pakistan cricketers, having worked closely with them as a batting coach in the previous two ICC T20 World Cups.

Shadab has been one of Pakistan's standout performers in recent years and has also captained the team on multiple occasions in the absence of regular skipper Babar Azam. The 24-year-old has excelled in all three departments as his spin bowling has proven to be effective while he has been a reliable batter and an excellent fielder. 

Hayden lauded Shadab, stating he is an individual of the most excellent quality and termed the Pakistan cricketer a three-dimensional player like Jadeja who is one of the best in the game right row. 

“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.

The 51-year-old then pointed out the Pakistan cricketer's skills in all three departments. “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," the Aussie added.

Fielding makes a big difference in tournament cricket: Matthew Hayden

Hayden went on to say that players like Jadeja and Shadab will be important for any team when it comes to big events like the World Cup. He reckoned that that fielding plays a significant part in such events as it can change the complextion of games. The legendary opener talked about Australia's rich past in ODI World Cups, highlighting their brilliant fielding.

“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 specially 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 really dangerous because they combine really well under pressure in the one thing, an element of cricket which is the most selfless, and that’s effort in the field," the former cricketer added.