Maaz Sadaqat likely to debut? Young players Pakistan might consider for Sri Lanka T20I series

Maaz Sadaqat [Source: @MaazSadaqat/X.com]

Pakistan are scheduled to tour Sri Lanka early next year for a three-match T20I series, set to run from January 7 to 11, 2025. This short series is particularly important because it will act as the team’s early preparation for the 2026 T20 World Cup, which will be hosted by India and Sri Lanka in February 2026. 

Naturally, Pakistan would want to start building a balanced and settled squad well in advance.

However, the planning has run into complications. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced this Sri Lanka series quite late. 

By that time, the PCB had already issued No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) to several of Pakistan’s major players, allowing them to participate in Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL). Since the BBL runs from December 14 until the end of January, it directly overlaps with the Sri Lanka series.

As a result, Pakistan may be without some of their biggest stars, including Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf, and Shadab Khan, all of whom are set to play the BBL. Because of this unexpected situation, selectors are now keeping the door open for new faces to step in for this crucial assignment.

Below are three players who have recently impressed and could realistically be targeted by selectors if the senior players are unavailable.

Khawaja Nafay

One of the most exciting young batters in Pakistan’s domestic and franchise cricket, Khawaja Nafay, has been gradually making a name for himself. He already carries helpful experience from tournaments such as Pakistan Super League (PSL) and Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).

More importantly, Nafay turned heads with his explosive performance at the Hong Kong Sixes, where he scored 151 runs in just five innings, boasting a staggering strike rate of 284.91 and an average of 50.33.

[Khwaja Nafay's numbers in Hong Kong Sixes 2025]

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With Babar Azam likely unavailable, Pakistan will need a reliable top-order batter who can both stabilise and accelerate. Notably, in the T20s, Nafay has scored 688 runs in 32 innings at a strike rate of 132.81, which indicates he already understands the demands of the format. Therefore, he could be the ideal young batter to step into Pakistan’s top order in Sri Lanka.

Maaz Sadaqat

Another exciting prospect is Maaz Sadaqat, who recently delivered standout performances at the Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025. His all-round contribution was one of the biggest talking points of the competition. With the bat, he scored 258 runs in just five innings at an impressive strike rate of 177.93. With the ball, he claimed 7 wickets in four innings.

[Maaz Sadaqat's numbers in Asia Cup Rising Stars]

Selectors value players who can contribute in multiple departments, and Sadaqat fits that description well. His strong performances have continued in the Nepal Premier League, where he has recorded 101 runs in four innings and taken three wickets in three outings.

In overall T20 career, Sadaqat has already amassed 751 runs in 24 innings at a strike rate of 147.83. With several top-order and all-rounder slots potentially opening up, he is a genuine candidate to be tested during the Sri Lanka series.

Ahmed Daniyal

If Pakistan’s frontline pacers, especially Shaheen Afridi, are unavailable, the team will need new pace-bowling options. One name who stands out is Ahmed Daniyal, who has already played two T20Is but remains relatively untested at the international level.

Notably, Daniyal made headlines during the Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025, particularly in the final, where he took two wickets in the Super Over, helping Pakistan Shaheens clinch the title against Bangladesh A. That kind of nerve under pressure is something Pakistan’s selectors value highly.

In the same tournament, he collected six wickets in five innings with an excellent economy rate of 5.56. Even in PSL 2025, he showed promise by taking six wickets in four matches. His brief international stint against Bangladesh saw him secure three wickets with an economy of 5.57, again proving his control.

Given Pakistan’s potential shortage for this series, Daniyal could be a strong candidate to step in.

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