Pakistan Face Selection Dilemma Ahead of Second T20I Against Sri Lanka
Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail
Pakistan will take on Sri Lanka in the second match of their three-game T20 International series on Sunday, aiming to secure a 2-0 lead and clinch the series. After winning the opening match by four wickets, the team management faces a decision over whether to retain the successful playing XI or give opportunities to other players in the squad.
Pakistan chased Sri Lanka’s target of 183 runs in the first T20I at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Friday, reaching the total with seven balls to spare despite losing several wickets towards the end of the innings.
Young batter Maaz Sadaqat and captain Sahibzada Farhan were among the leading performers in the victory. Both players have indicated that they intend to continue playing an attacking brand of cricket suited to the demands of the modern T20 format.
Maaz impressed with his maiden T20 International half-century, scoring 50 runs off just 26 deliveries while batting at number three. Following the match, he said he was pleased with the achievement and planned to continue trusting his natural style of play.
The left-handed batter’s recent performances have strengthened his case for a regular place in Pakistan’s lineup. During last month’s Caribbean Premier League, he scored 363 runs in seven matches at a strike rate of nearly 175, including two centuries. One of those hundreds came in the tournament final.
His performance against Sri Lanka has also raised the possibility of Pakistan testing him as an opener instead of keeping him at number three. Maaz, however, has expressed confidence in his ability to bat at different positions according to the team’s requirements.
He said he was comfortable in his current role but remained ready to bat wherever Pakistan needed him. Farhan also praised the youngster’s form, encouraging him to make the most of his opportunity.
The Pakistan captain delivered an outstanding performance of his own in the opening match, scoring 89 runs from 53 balls. His innings earned him the Player of the Match award and helped Pakistan complete a successful chase.
Farhan said he had worked on improving his scoring rate over the past year, aiming to maintain a strike rate of around 150 to 160. He believes modern T20 cricket requires an aggressive approach and intends to continue batting that way regardless of whether he is leading the side.
The series is Farhan’s first home assignment as Pakistan’s T20I captain. With established players such as Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Shaheen Afridi absent from the current squad, the matches offer an opportunity for the team management to assess younger players and develop combinations for future competitions.
Farhan acknowledged that representing Pakistan naturally brings pressure because of public expectations. However, he expressed confidence in the squad’s depth and highlighted the availability of several backup options.
Among the players who could come into consideration are Arafat Minhas, Abdul Samad and Sufiyan Muqeem. Each has produced performances that could strengthen their claims for a place in the playing XI.
Arafat impressed during the Asian Games semi-final with figures of two wickets for 23 runs in three overs. He has also enjoyed success in international cricket, earning Player of the Series honours during his debut ODI series against Australia earlier this year.
Abdul Samad has demonstrated his ability to contribute in pressure situations. His quickfire 30 off 15 balls against Bangladesh helped Pakistan reach the gold-medal match at the Asian Games.
Meanwhile, left-arm wrist-spinner Sufiyan Muqeem arrives with an impressive record in franchise cricket. He was named Player of the Tournament during Peshawar Zalmi’s Pakistan Super League title-winning campaign and later claimed Player of the Final honours in the CPL after taking four wickets for 14 runs.
Their availability gives Pakistan the option to rotate players and assess the squad’s depth. However, changing a winning combination also carries risks, particularly when the team is one victory away from securing the series.
Pakistan’s previous T20 setups have sometimes faced criticism for prioritising immediate results over giving emerging players sufficient opportunities in bilateral matches. The current series presents another chance to balance winning games with preparing a stronger squad for the future.
The management must now decide whether to stick with the team that delivered victory in the first match or make changes to test its bench strength. The second T20I could provide further insight into Pakistan’s evolving approach, with the result and selection decisions both likely to attract attention.
