New Delhi: Legendary Australian batsman Matthew Hayden is seemingly displeased with Sachin Tendulkar being awarded the prestigious ‘Order of Australia.’

The swashbuckling left-handed opener said even though Sachin is an iconic figure ‘Down Under’, he felt that the award should remain exclusive for Australians.

"Now, 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," Hayden told a radio show.

"I think it should be exclusive to Australians...I'm not so sure. There's things that are sacred amongst our country,” Hayden was heard saying on Triple M’s Rush Hour.

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, during her recent visit to India announced that `Order of Australia` will be conferred on Sachin Tendulkar for his huge contribution to the sport.

Talking about the decision, 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 said.

By Indian Sports News Network