Pakistan: Pakistan will face Sri Lanka in the second match of their three-match Twenty20 International series on Sunday, aiming to secure a 2-0 lead and clinch the series after winning the opening game by four wickets.
Pakistan chased Sri Lanka’s target of 183 runs in the first match, reaching 184 with seven balls remaining despite losing several wickets towards the end of the innings.
Top-order batter Maaz Sadaqat and captain Sahibzada Farhan will be key players as Pakistan look to maintain their winning momentum. Sadaqat scored his maiden T20 International half-century, reaching 50 off 26 balls, while Farhan was named Player of the Match for his 89 off 53 deliveries.
Can Maaz Sadaqat Maintain His Form?
Sadaqat said after the opening match that he intended to continue playing his natural game and back the approach that had brought him success.
His recent form includes an impressive campaign in the Caribbean Premier League, where he scored 363 runs in seven matches at a strike rate of nearly 175, including two centuries.
The batter said he was comfortable at his current position but was willing to bat anywhere in the order for Pakistan. Farhan also praised Sadaqat’s form and encouraged him to make the most of his opportunities.
Farhan said he had adjusted his batting approach over the past year to maintain a strike rate of around 150-160, reflecting the demands of modern T20 cricket. He added that he intended to continue with the same approach regardless of whether he was captain.
Will Pakistan Test Its Bench Strength?
The series is Farhan’s first home assignment as T20I captain and offers Pakistan an opportunity to assess combinations as the team rebuilds without senior players Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Afridi in the current squad.
Farhan said the team had strong backup options, including Arafat Minhas, Abdul Samad and Sufiyan Muqeem, giving the management flexibility to experiment with its playing combination.
Minhas has impressed with his bowling performances, while Samad contributed with a quick 30 off 15 balls against Bangladesh during the Asian Games. Muqeem has also enjoyed success, earning individual honours during Peshawar Zalmi’s Pakistan Super League title-winning campaign and the Caribbean Premier League final.
Pakistan’s team management must decide whether to retain the winning combination from the opening match or give other players an opportunity ahead of the series finale.
A victory on Sunday would secure the series for Pakistan with one match remaining, while a Sri Lankan win would level the contest at 1-1.