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In an Australian radio show, Hayden said Tendulkar didn't deserve the honour. "I think it should be exclusive to Australians... There are things that are sacred amongst our country. I understand the point that he is an iconic figure. If Sachin was living in Australia – give him the Prime Minister's gong I reckon – but the reality of it is he's living in India," he said.
"I kind of understand the point of the fact that he has been such an iconic figure here in Australia and there's an enormous population of Indians that are working here and living here very happily and in harmony with Australia that have naturalised and I think that's a great part of our country, how multi-cultural that we are," he explained.
Hayden was one of the few Australian cricketers to have earned a similar honour, inducted in 2010 for services to cricket and the community. The list includes cricket greats like Sir Donald Bradman, Allan Border, Dennis Lillee, Max Walker, Bob Simpson, Keith Miller and Steve Waugh.
Australian cricket fans have also criticised their Prime Minister's decision citing Tendulkar's role in the monkeygate scandal involving the countries' cricket teams. Tendulkar was a key witness in the Harbhajan Singh-Andrew Symonds racism controversy in 2008.
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Tuesday had announced that the iconic Indian cricketer will be conferred the membership of the Order of Australia, an honour "rarely" awarded to non-Australians. He become only the second Indian after former Attorney General Soli Sorabjee to get the honour.
Sorabjee was made an Honorary Member of the Order of Australia (AM) "for service to Australia-India bilateral legal relations" in 2006.
"Cricket is of course a great bond between Australia and India. We are both cricket-mad nations. I am very pleased that we are going to confer on Sachin Tendulkar, membership of the order of Australia," Gillard, who is on a visit to India, had told reporters.
"This is a very special honour very rarely awarded to someone who is not an Australian citizen or an Australian national. The award will be conferred on him by cabinet Minister Simon Crean when he visits India," she said.
"So, a special honour and a very special recognition of such a great batsman. The honour is very special and Sachin is a very special cricketer."
Tendulkar is not the first cricketer to be made an Order of Australia AM as in 2009, West Indies legend Brian Lara was also made an honorary member.
Another West Indies legend, Clive Lloyd, is an Honorary Officer in the Order of Australia, having been conferred the award way back in 1985.
Hayden tried his hand at a cooking show after he left cricket and was a flop. Australia can make Sachin their prime minister and we will make Hayden a joker in Bollywood movies . Fair exchange Hayden?
Indeed Sachin Tendulkar doesn't deserve it.
Mr Srenivas, what you are upto? Hayden dint say Sachin doesnt deserve it, he saide it shud be exclusibely to australian, this is not the forum for pple like you to criticise Sachin..people like you live and die without doing or getting any honou in life , so u have a negative attitude to people who make an impact in the world..just htink your self " What right miself have to say Sachin doesnt deserve the award"..
How can Australian cricket fans claim that whatever sachin said in the court was wrong. None of the fans were present in the ground at the time of the incident. Moreover Sachin is much greater than that award for which such a hue and cry is being made. Australian media was always biased. So many negative things were shown on australian television when indian team last visited Australia and they continue. Indian media should defend Indian cricket team the same way as the Australian media go out of the way for their team. It is rediculous that such a treatment is being given to one of the greatest batsman from Australian media. t monkeygate scandal was correctwronghow can can say whatever he said as if he doesn't get that australian award his acheivements are incomplete.
Naughty boy Hayden feeling jealous of Sachin. Don't worry you will get the award next time.Or play well in IPL and get Khel Rathna in India.
Sachin deserve this..
He does not deserve what he is getting in India itself!
Matt Hayden is berating Sachin the way we talk about Greg Chappel. Both are icons in their own countries. This shows that Aussies are equally petty minded.
Can someone please ask Hayden where was he when the same membership was conferred upon Brian Lara? How is it ok for Brian Lara but not ok for Sachin Tendulkar? Both the players have had similar impact against the Aussies on the field. I feel Hayden (and Gilly) has always held a grudge against Tendulkar. Let's ask Shane Warne, Brett Lee etc.
Noone complained when Sobers, Lloyd and Lara got the award. They're not Australian. Australians have a problem with Tendulkar because they think he's ungracious for not doing media interviews last summer. He has been criticised for not treating the fans with respect.
