Key Takeaways
- Maaz Sadaqat misses out on selection for upcoming ODI tri-series.
- The 21-year-old left-hander impresses in T20I series against Sri Lanka.
- He targets the ODI World Cup and plans to work on his game over the next month.
Maaz Sadaqat, a 21-year-old left-handed batsman, has his sights set on the 2027 World Cup despite missing out on selection for Pakistan’s upcoming One-day International (ODI) tri-series featuring England and Sri Lanka.
Sadaqat made a strong impression in the recently concluded three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka, scoring consecutive half-centuries in the first two matches to help Pakistan clinch the series.
His performances were notable, signaling a shift towards a more aggressive batting approach in T20 cricket, with Sadaqat emerging as a key figure in the change.
In the opening match, Sadaqat scored 50 off 29 balls, helping Pakistan recover from an underwhelming powerplay alongside captain Sahibzada Farhan. In the second T20I, he smashed 96 off 51 balls, including seven sixes and six fours, coming close to a maiden international century.
However, Sadaqat was left out of the ODI squad despite having featured in six matches in the format, including his debut, earlier this year. The reasons behind his omission remain unclear.
The youngster, who rose from tape-ball cricket in Peshawar to become a franchise T20 sensation, has continued to build his reputation on the domestic and international circuits.
He also struck two centuries in the recently concluded Caribbean Premier League season. Sadaqat believes the key to his progress lies in strengthening his natural game rather than focusing excessively on his weaknesses.
‘I try to work as much as I can on my strengths and less on my weaknesses, because if the ball is out of my range, I’d still be able to push it for a single or two,’ he said in a video interview released by the Pakistan Cricket Board on Thursday.
‘However, if it is in my range, then I can hit it for six with my eyes closed. If you watch both my CPL and international knocks, I keep a positive intent from the very start. And if the ball comes in my range then I don’t spare it. And when a ball is a bit here or there, I try to rotate the strike.’
I am targeting the ODI World Cup and I am preparing for it.
Maaz Sadaqat, Batsman
