COLOMBO: Pakistan will face Sri Lanka in the second match of their three-game Twenty20 International (T20I) series on Sunday evening, aiming to take an unassailable 2-0 lead and secure the series.
The Green Shirts will look to build on strong performances from opener Maaz Sadaqat and captain Sahibzada Farhan in the first match. Both players have stressed their commitment to backing their natural game while meeting the demands of modern T20 cricket.
Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by four wickets on Friday, chasing a target of 183 with seven balls to spare despite losing several wickets towards the end of the innings.
Maaz Sadaqat Vows to Back His Natural Game
Maaz made an impressive impact at one-drop, scoring his maiden T20I half-century off just 26 balls.
“It was my first 50, so I am very happy,” the batter said during the post-match press conference. He added that he planned to continue playing his natural game and trust his approach in upcoming matches.
Maaz’s recent form can be traced back to last month’s Caribbean Premier League (CPL), where he scored 363 runs in seven matches at a strike rate of nearly 175. His campaign included two centuries, one of which came in the final.
Another strong performance in the second T20I could further strengthen his position in Pakistan’s lineup. It remains to be seen whether the team management keeps him at one-drop or tests him as an opener.
Maaz said he was comfortable batting at one-drop but was ready to take on any role for Pakistan.
“I am comfortable in this position, but for Pakistan I am prepared to bat at any position,” he said.
He was also asked whether replacing Babar Azam in the batting order brought additional pressure. Maaz indicated that his focus remained on contributing wherever the team needed him.
Farhan Backs Maaz After Match-Winning Knock
Farhan praised Maaz’s current form and encouraged him to make the most of the opportunity.
“I think, the sort of form Maaz is in, he is one of the best players,” Farhan said after the opening match.
The captain revealed that he had urged Maaz to complete his half-century, believing it could help Pakistan finish the chase earlier.
“Today I told him, now that you have the opportunity, you should complete your 50. If you complete your 50, we can finish this match three or four overs earlier,” Farhan told the broadcaster during the post-match show.
Farhan was named Player of the Match for his outstanding 89 off 53 balls. The innings marked another significant performance in his early tenure as T20I captain, following two matches during Pakistan’s silver-medal campaign at the Asian Games.
Captain Says Modern T20 Cricket Demands Aggression
Farhan said he had changed his batting approach over the past year to meet the demands of modern T20 cricket. He explained that he now aims to maintain a strike rate of around 150 to 160, rather than the lower rates he recorded earlier in his career.
Like Maaz, the captain said he would continue playing according to his current approach as long as it suited the game, regardless of whether he was leading the side.
The Sri Lanka series is Farhan’s first assignment at home as Pakistan’s T20I captain. Its results could help shape a side undergoing a rebuilding process, with senior players Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Afridi currently absent from the squad.
The series also gives the team management an opportunity to assess combinations and explore different batting and bowling options.
“It would be a lie to say there is no pressure, because when you are representing your country, people have expectations from you,” Farhan said.
However, he expressed confidence in the squad’s depth.
“As a captain, I am very happy with this team,” he said, adding that three or four strong individual performances could be enough to change the outcome of a T20 match.
Pakistan Have Several Backup Options
Farhan pointed to the availability of Arafat Minhas, Abdul Samad and Sufiyan Muqeem as evidence of the team’s bench strength.
He said the depth of the squad meant that the playing combination was not fixed and the management could experiment in upcoming matches.
Each of the three players has offered reasons for consideration.
Arafat delivered a disciplined spell of two wickets for 23 runs in three overs during the Asian Games semi-final. He has also impressed in international cricket, earning Player of the Series honours during his debut ODI series against Australia earlier this year.
Meanwhile, Abdul Samad played a key role in Pakistan reaching the Asian Games gold-medal match with a quick 30 off 15 balls against Bangladesh.
Sufiyan has also enjoyed an impressive run. He was named Player of the Tournament during Peshawar Zalmi’s Pakistan Super League title-winning campaign. More recently, he earned Player of the Final honours in the CPL after taking four wickets for 14 runs.
His performances could make him an option as Pakistan consider their bowling combinations for the remaining matches.
Will Pakistan Experiment With the Playing XI?
Pakistan’s previous T20 sides have often faced criticism for prioritising immediate results over experimentation in bilateral series. Critics have argued that such matches should provide more opportunities for younger players to gain international experience.
Maaz was asked whether Shadab Khan’s selection had occupied a place that could have gone to a younger player. His response was brief: “He was selected on merit.”
The question of selection will remain relevant ahead of Sunday’s match. Pakistan could retain the combination that secured victory in the opener or give other squad members an opportunity.
The second T20I will therefore offer more than a chance to seal the series. It will also provide another opportunity for Farhan and the team management to assess the squad’s depth and identify combinations for the future.
