Maaz Sadaqat has been left out of Pakistan’s squad for the one-day international (ODI) tri-series with England and Sri Lanka, but the 21-year-old left-hander says his sights are firmly set on next year’s World Cup.
The decision came days after he made a strong impression in the three-match Twenty20 International series against Sri Lanka, scoring consecutive half-centuries in the first two matches to help Pakistan win the series, according to Dawn.
A series that stood out
In the opening match, Maaz made 50 off 29 balls, helping Pakistan recover from a weak powerplay in a partnership with captain Sahibzada Farhan. In the second T20I at Rawalpindi he went further, hitting 96 off 51 balls with seven sixes and six fours, and fell just short of a maiden international century. His innings were seen as a sign of a more aggressive approach in Pakistan’s T20 batting, with Maaz emerging as a key figure in that shift.
He has also hit two centuries in the recently concluded Caribbean Premier League season. Read our report on how his 96 sealed the series win.
Why he is out of the ODI squad
Maaz has played six ODIs, including his debut, earlier this year. Dawn noted that he made an immediate impact in his second match, scoring 75 against Bangladesh and taking three wickets with his left-arm spin. He then struggled in the home series against Australia in May and June, scoring eight, zero and 27 on difficult surfaces.
The reasons for his omission from the tri-series squad remain unclear.
“I am targeting the ODI World Cup”
In a video interview released by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday, Maaz said the break would be useful. “I am targeting the ODI World Cup and I am preparing for it,” he said. “I have a 15-20-day window coming up which I am going to dedicate to working on myself for the World Cup.”
He described a straightforward approach to improving. “[In training] 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. “However, if it is in my range, then I can hit it for six with my eyes closed.”
He added that he tries to keep a positive intent from the first ball, in both franchise and international cricket. “If you watch both my CPL and international knocks, I keep a positive intent from the very start,” he said. “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.”
Competition at the top of the order
Maaz said he is open to batting anywhere in the order, though he admitted he is most comfortable opening. A place in the 2027 World Cup squad would put him in contention for an opening slot alongside Saim Ayub, who is averaging nearly 47 in ODIs, and the experienced Fakhar Zaman.
He said he sees the competition as a challenge rather than a setback. “Even if I am asked to bat lower in the order, I’ll try to bat so well that they [team management] are forced to push me higher,” he said.
Background
Maaz rose from tape-ball cricket in the streets of Peshawar to become a franchise T20 star, and is only 21. The ODI tri-series with England and Sri Lanka is part of Pakistan’s build-up to the 2027 ODI World Cup, which is being held in South Africa. Pakistan open their campaign against Afghanistan on October 8, 2027.
Why it matters
Dropping a batter who has just scored 96 in a series-clinching win is an unusual call, and it keeps attention on how Pakistan’s selectors balance T20 form against ODI experience. For Maaz, the next few weeks of domestic and training work will decide whether he is back in contention when the squad for the World Cup is named. Read our report on Naseem Shah’s return from injury.
This article draws on reporting by Dawn and The Express Tribune.
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