Matthew Hayden says his knowledge of Australia gives Pakistan an advantage over buddy Justin Langer

Pakistani batting coach Matthew Hayden admitted that Thursday's T20 World Cup second semi-final against his native Australia in Dubai could be a "challenge of the heart and mind" as he prepares to meet his outdated pal and inaugural accomplice Justin Langer to return.

With Pakistan, the only unbeaten facet of the game looking to win the trophy for the second time after the 2009 triumph in England, and Australia looking to interrupt its T20 World Cup duck, the gathering of Hayden and Langer - as soon as they are inextricably linked is the center - has added an unexpectedly private touch.

"It's a very unusual feeling," said 50-year-old Hayden, who received the final of his 103 test caps in January 2009. "I've been a fighter for Australian cricket for two decades, so I have the advantage." To get wonderful insights, not only into these players, but also into the cricket culture in Australia.

Hayden (left) and Langer (right) used to open the hits for Australia and are good friends "From my point of view there is the challenge of the heart, the challenge of the mind in relation to what is going to happen in the next 24 hours, but I am also very proud to say that it was fantastic to be part of Pakistan." Cricket . '

Between 2001 and 2007, Hayden and Langer - Australia's head coach for the past three and a half years - completed 5,655 test runs with a combined score of 51. Among the inaugural partnerships in Test Cricket, only Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes of West Indies made additional ones. But Hayden did his best to minimize direct teaching. "Justin Langer and I are in similar positions insofar as a national coach or a batting coach never wins a cricket match," he said. "The 11 that take part in the game win the game and we're just back-up."

Meanwhile, Australian captain Aaron Finch is aware that his facet could be arduous to beat a safe Pakistani group that have played their last 16 T20 games in the United Arab Emirates - a sequence that again stretched until the 15th. November extends into Sharjah when England passed them in an excellent after a draw. Likewise, Australia has again bounced back strongly from its eight-wicket mauling by Eoin Morgan's group in Dubai on Oct. 30, beating Bangladesh and the West Indies and putting South Africa below the top 4 on the internet run rate.

"In the run-up to the tournament, you tend to hear things or see strange quotes or comments that people have copied," said Finch. “It's attention grabbing how the narrative can actually change quickly. About 10 days ago our group was too out of date and now we are an experienced group. “I don't think we exceeded our expectations in any way. We came up here with a very clear plan to win this game and we're still alive to do it. "