Maaz Sadaqat: The 20-Year-Old Pakistan All-Rounder Taking Cricket by Storm

By [Shah Zaib Malik] – Sports & Cricket Desk

Every generation of Pakistani cricket produces a young talent who arrives not with a knock, but with a bang. A player who makes you stop scrolling and start watching.

In 2026, that player is Maaz Sadaqat.

At just 20 years old, this left-handed batting all-rounder from Peshawar has already:

• Scored a Player of the Match-winning 75 off 46 balls on his second ODI for Pakistan 

• Smashed an unbeaten 64 off 33 balls in a PSL Eliminator 

• Been named Player of the Tournament at the Asia Cup Rising Stars 

• Become a household name across Pakistan and beyond

But who exactly is Maaz Sadaqat? Where did he come from? And why are cricket experts calling him Pakistan's next great all-format asset?

This is his story.

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Who Is Maaz Sadaqat? The Basics

Before we dive into his heroics, let us cover the essentials.

Detail	Information
Full Name	Maaz Sadaqat
Born	May 15, 2005 (age 20)
Birthplace	Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Batting Style	Left-handed
Bowling Style	Slow left-arm orthodox
Role	Batting all-rounder
International Debut	March 11, 2026 vs Bangladesh (ODI)
Current PSL Team	Hyderabad Kingsmen (2026)
Previous PSL Team	Peshawar Zalmi (2025)

Maaz Sadaqat is not a one-trick pony. He is a genuine all-rounder—capable of clearing any boundary with his bat and strangling batters with his accurate left-arm spin .

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Early Life: The Peshawar Roots

Maaz Sadaqat was born and raised in Peshawar, a city known for producing fearless cricketers. But his journey was not handed to him on a silver platter.

His elder brother, Haroon Sadaqat, is also a cricketer who played 10 first-class games for FATA. It was Haroon who took a young Maaz to Ashnaghar Cricket Club in Peshawar after he completed his matriculation .

"I was a school kid and was hitting big sixes in my first club cricket game, and everyone was super impressed," Maaz recalled in a 2025 interview . 

From that moment, his family made a collective decision: let the boy play. Trials followed. Selections followed. And soon, Maaz was inside the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) talent pathway system.

He represented Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Under-19s and quickly became the highest run-scorer for his team in multiple age-group tournaments .

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Youth Career and Under-19 Glory

Maaz first grabbed headlines as a teenager in Pakistan's domestic Under-19 circuit.

• October 2019: Made his Under-19 debut for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa against Central Punjab. Picked up a five-wicket haul in that very match .

• 2020–21 Season: Finished as the highest run-scorer for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the PCB National Under-19s One Day Tournament, scoring 363 runs including a century .

• December 2021: Named in Pakistan's Under-19 squad for the ACC Under-19 Asia Cup and the 2022 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup .

This was the foundation. The raw talent was now being shaped into a professional cricketer.

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Domestic Breakthrough: First-Class and List A

Maaz Sadaqat made his first-class debut on October 27, 2022, for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa against Balochistan . He was only 17 years old.

Within a month, he scored his maiden first-class half-century—91 runs against Northern—leading his team to an innings victory .

He then traveled to Bangladesh to play for City Club in the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League, where he made his List A debut in March 2023 . He scored his maiden List A fifty (65 runs) and picked up a wicket in the same match, winning Player of the Match .

Format	Matches	Runs	Average	100s/50s	Wickets
First-Class	22	1,288	39.03	1/12	14
List A	20	598	33.22	1/4	13
T20	20	493	30.81	0/3	7

Statistics as of October 2025 

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PSL Debut: The Babar Azam Partnership

Every young Pakistani batter dreams of batting with Babar Azam. Maaz Sadaqat lived that dream in May 2025.

Playing for Peshawar Zalmi in HBL PSL X, Maaz made his PSL debut against Islamabad United at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium. Peshawar was struggling at 38 for 3 in 5.5 overs, chasing 144 .

Enter Maaz Sadaqat.

He walked out, and alongside Babar Azam, stitched a game-changing 102-run partnership. Maaz smashed 55 runs off just 33 balls, hitting four fours and three sixes .

"With Babar at the other end, I felt no pressure, and I turned to my natural game, acquiring more belief," he later said .

That innings announced his arrival on the biggest domestic stage in Pakistan.

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2025: The Year of Global Exposure

If 2025 had a soundtrack, Maaz Sadaqat's bat would be the lead instrument.

Here is what his year looked like:

Achievement	Details
Top End T20 (Australia)	Scored a century (104 off 59 balls) against Adelaide Strikers in Darwin
Pakistan Shaheens Tour (England)	Gained valuable red-ball experience in county conditions
Hong Kong Sixes	Won the tournament; gained unique bowling experience on small boundaries
Asia Cup Rising Stars (Doha)	Player of the Tournament: 258 runs at average 129 + 7 wickets at economy 4.3
Nepal Premier League	Played for Janakpur Bolts alongside international stars

The Asia Cup Rising Stars performance was particularly special. Maaz scored 96 off 54 balls against Oman and took 2 wickets for 13 runs against India A, helping Pakistan Shaheens knock India out of the tournament .

Reflecting on his whirlwind year, Maaz admitted:

"It has been a great year exposure-wise. The last time I left home after coming from Doha, my mother welled up seeing me for such a short time, but she is also so proud of seeing me do well after all we have gone through as a family." 

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International Debut: Bangladesh Series (March 2026)

On March 11, 2026, Maaz Sadaqat became ODI cap number 256 for Pakistan .

His debut against Bangladesh was quiet—18 runs off 28 balls—and Pakistan lost .

But his second ODI? That was fireworks.

Maaz walked in and smashed 75 runs off just 46 balls—a strike rate of 163. He then picked up 3 wickets for 23 runs with his left-arm spin .

Pakistan won by 128 runs (DLS method). Maaz Sadaqat was named Player of the Match in only his second international game .

"He proved why his all-round skills were so highly rated," wrote Wisden .

At 20 years old, he had arrived on the international stage.

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PSL 2026: The Hyderabad Kingsmen Hero

Currently, Maaz Sadaqat is playing for the Hyderabad Kingsmen in PSL 11—the franchise's debut season .

On April 28, 2026, in Eliminator 1 against Multan Sultans at Gaddafi Stadium, Maaz delivered when it mattered most .

Chasing 160 for victory, Maaz opened the innings and remained unbeaten on 64 off just 33 balls, hitting four fours and four sixes at a strike rate of 193.94 .

Hyderabad chased down the target with 28 balls to spare, winning by 8 wickets. Maaz Sadaqat was named Player of the Match .

The Kingsmen, who lost their first four matches of the tournament, have now won six in a row—and Maaz has been central to that revival .

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Playing Style: What Makes Maaz Sadaqat Special?

Cricket analysts have noted three key strengths in Maaz Sadaqat's game.

1. Modern, Aggressive Batting

Maaz does not believe in "anchoring" in T20 cricket. He attacks from ball one. His strike rate in List A cricket is 103.59, and in T20s, it is an eye-watering 142.19 .

He plays all around the ground but is particularly strong through the covers and over mid-wicket.

2. Economical Left-Arm Spin

His slow left-arm orthodox bowling is not about big turn—it is about accuracy and pressure. At the Asia Cup Rising Stars, he had an economy rate of just 4.3 in T20s .

3. Adaptability Across Formats

Maaz has been equally successful in first-class cricket (a century and twelve fifties) and T20s (three fifties and a 142 strike rate). He does not change his tempo dramatically—he believes in playing his natural game regardless of format .

His regional head coach, Raffatullah Mohmand, summed it up perfectly:

"Apart from being a quick learner and skilled cricketer, Maaz's success also lies in in-depth preparation of all the challenges facing him. Right from the moment he shot into regional and provincial squads, he started observing and talking to all the experienced players like Mohammad Rizwan, Iftikhar Ahmed and Sahibzada Farhan." 

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What's Next for Maaz Sadaqat?

At only 20 years old, Maaz Sadaqat has already achieved what many cricketers dream of in a full career.

But the road ahead is even bigger.

• T20I Debut: Expected soon, possibly during Pakistan's next home series or the Asia Cup.

• 2026 T20 World Cup: If his PSL and ODI form continues, a World Cup squad spot is very possible.

• Global Franchise Leagues: He has already played in the Nepal Premier League. Offers from the CPL, ILT20, and possibly the IPL (through associate pathways) are likely.

Maaz himself remains grounded. His focus? Continuous improvement.

"I have been making short stops at home between all these engagements... but my family is so proud of seeing me do well after all we have gone through." 

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Frequently Asked Questions About Maaz Sadaqat

Q: How old is Maaz Sadaqat?

Maaz Sadaqat was born on May 15, 2005. He is 20 years old as of April 2026 .

Q: Which team does Maaz Sadaqat play for in PSL 2026?

He plays for the Hyderabad Kingsmen in PSL 11. He previously played for Peshawar Zalmi in 2025 .

Q: Has Maaz Sadaqat played for Pakistan?

Yes. He made his ODI debut for Pakistan on March 11, 2026, against Bangladesh. He has played 2 ODIs so far .

Q: What is Maaz Sadaqat's highest score?

• ODIs: 75 (46 balls) vs Bangladesh, March 2026 

• T20s: 82 (domestic) 

• PSL: 64* (33 balls) for Hyderabad Kingsmen vs Multan Sultans, April 2026 

• First-Class: 114 

Q: Does Maaz Sadaqat bowl?

Yes. He bowls slow left-arm orthodox (spin). He has taken 14 first-class wickets, 13 List A wickets, and 7 T20 wickets as of October 2025 .

Q: Is Maaz Sadaqat related to anyone famous in cricket?

His elder brother, Haroon Sadaqat, is also a cricketer who has played first-class cricket for FATA