RAWALPINDI: Pakistan all-rounder Maaz Sadaqat attributed his maiden T20 International half-century against Sri Lanka on Friday to his natural attacking approach and the confidence shown in him by the team management.
Pakistan, led by Sahibzada Farhan, beat the Kusal Mendis-captained side by four wickets at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Batting at number three, Maaz cracked a brisk 29-ball 50 laced with four fours and three sixes as Pakistan overhauled the 183-run target with seven balls to spare. Opener Farhan top-scored with a 53-ball 89. The victory gave the hosts a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, left-handed Maaz expressed delight at both the team’s victory and his personal achievement, terming his first half-century in T20 Internationals as memorable.
“This win is particularly satisfying,” the 21-year-old batter said.
He further said that he intended to maintain the same positive approach in the remaining matches of the series, emphasising the importance of consistency and confidence in his natural style of play.
“Modern-day cricket demands an attacking mindset, particularly during powerplay,” the player said, adding he was following the guidance provided by the coaching staff.
Maaz said that his aggressive batting was a natural part of his game and that the management’s trust had encouraged him to bat with freedom.
“I intend to continue backing my instincts while adhering to the team’s strategy,” he said, adding that the approach had begun to produce encouraging results.
The all-rounder also expressed his willingness to adapt to the team’s requirements, saying he was prepared to bat at any position whenever needed.
Commenting on Pakistan’s batting strength, Maaz praised middle-order batters Hasan Nawaz and Abdul Samad, noting that their presence had further strengthened the team’s batting resources.
He suggested that the depth available in the line-up offered Pakistan greater flexibility and confidence in different match situations.
‘TWENTY RUNS SHORT’
Meanwhile, Sri Lankan opener Lahiru Udara said that his team should have posted a bigger total in the series opener.
“Yes, I think we were 20 runs short [in the first T20],” Udara, who smashed 91 off 55 balls in the opener, told reporters in the post-match media conference. “We lost a couple of wickets early which did not allow us to add those extra 20 runs [to the total]. Pakistan played the game really well. They bowled well in powerplay and kept a good line and length that prevented us [from scoring freely].”
Answering a question, the 32-year-old defended the tourists’ decision to bat first.
“Before the match, we had decided that if we win the toss, we will bat first to put scoreboard pressure. However, it did not go our way,” he said, adding the Rawalpindi wicket was batting-friendly.
Published in Dawn, October 11th, 2026
