I knew it was going over: Maaz Sadaqat reflects on 96 in Rawalpindi
By Nawaz Gohar ; Following Pakistan’s resounding 82-run victory over Sri Lanka in the second T20 International—which sealed an unassailable 2–0 series triumph—young batting sensation and Player of the Match Maaz Sadaqat opened up about his stellar performance.
Sadaqat played a breathtaking, match-winning knock of 96 runs off just 51 deliveries, anchoring Pakistan’s imposing total of 215. Though he missed out on a maiden T20I century by a mere four runs, his fearless strokeplay captured the hearts of millions of fans.
Reflecting on his innings during the post-match presentation, Sadaqat expressed gratitude: “All praise belongs to Almighty Allah. My bat was flowing well today, and I just tried to make the absolute most of it out in the middle.”
Sharing a lighthearted behind-the-scenes moment regarding his six-hitting display, the young left-hander revealed an accurate prediction he made to his teammate: “I had already told Hasan Nawaz beforehand that I was going to hit a maximum off that exact delivery, and that is precisely what happened.”
Discussing his approach at the crease alongside captain Sahibzada Farhan—with whom he shared a massive 150-plus run partnership—Sadaqat emphasized the importance of clarity and constant guidance: “I always bat with a positive mindset, watching the ball closely and playing according to its merit.
The captain was constantly guiding me through every single ball out there, and our core objective was to build a substantial, sensible partnership.”
The record-breaking alliance between Sadaqat and Farhan propelled Pakistan to 215/3, before a disciplined bowling attack dismantled the Sri Lankan batting lineup for 133.
While Maaz Sadaqat fell on the very last ball of the innings while chasing history, his phenomenal display has sparked widespread discussions across the country: Is Maaz Sadaqat destined to become Pakistan’s next big superstar?
