Sadaqat's audacious no-look six headlines Pakistan's comeback win over Sri Lanka
Young Pakistani batter Maaz Sadaqat scores maiden T20I fifty with spectacular no-look six as Pakistan defeats Sri Lanka by four wickets in Rawalpindi, taking 1-0 series lead.
Yousef Al Marzouqi
Sadaqat's audacious no-look six headlines Pakistan's comeback win over Sri Lanka
Pakistan secured a four-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the opening T20I at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Friday, chasing down 182 runs with seven balls to spare as young batter Maaz Sadaqat announced himself on the international stage with a spectacular maiden half-century.
The 21-year-old from Peshawar entertained the 15,000-capacity crowd with an audacious no-look six off Sri Lankan pacer Eshan Malinga that quickly went viral on social media. Moving across his stumps to a full delivery outside off, Sadaqat flicked the ball over deep midwicket without watching its trajectory, sending it sailing over the boundary.
The shot epitomized the fearless approach that has characterized Sadaqat's rapid rise through Pakistani cricket. After emerging at the Champions T20 Cup in late 2024 as a 19-year-old, where he finished among the top five run-scorers with 271 runs at a strike rate exceeding 137, he made his ODI debut against Bangladesh in March 2026 and has now carried that aggressive intent into the shortest format.
Sadaqat was not finished with his entertainment. He followed the no-look maximum with another six in the same over from Malinga, before going on to compile 50 runs from just 29 deliveries, including four boundaries and three sixes. His innings proved crucial in steadying Pakistan's chase after early wobbles.
Farhan leads Pakistan to victory in captaincy debut
The youngster formed a match-defining 92-run partnership with new captain Sahibzada Farhan, who played a commanding knock of 89 from 53 balls to guide Pakistan home. Farhan, who became Pakistan's sixth T20I captain in two years amid ongoing leadership instability, was named Player of the Match in his first game at the helm.
The 30-year-old skipper's appointment followed his standout performances at the 2026 T20 World Cup, where he topped Pakistan's run charts with 383 runs. He recently led Pakistan to a silver medal at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, falling to India in the gold-medal match, and has now started his permanent captaincy tenure with a victory.
Farhan replaced Salman Ali Agha, who was removed from both the captaincy and dropped entirely from the squad after Pakistan's disappointing campaigns at the 2026 Asia Cup and T20 World Cup. The leadership change reflects the Pakistan Cricket Board's continued search for stability in the T20I format.
Redemption for Pakistan after previous whitewash
The victory holds added significance for Pakistan, who were seeking redemption after Sri Lanka whitewashed them 3-0 in their last bilateral T20I series on Pakistani soil—the only time Pakistan have suffered such a defeat at home in the format.
Pakistan's middle-order batter Khawaja Nafay also contributed to the entertainment late in the chase with his own no-look moment, adding to the flair on display from the home side.
Sri Lanka had earlier posted 182 for eight after being sent in to bat, but their total proved insufficient against Pakistan's aggressive batting lineup. Pakistan reached 187 for six in 18.5 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
These three T20Is represent the only confirmed matches in the T20I format for Pakistan's home season, with ODI and Test series to follow against Sri Lanka. The second T20I will provide Pakistan an opportunity to seal the series, while Sri Lanka will look to bounce back and level the contest.
