Ian Bishop hails Maaz Sadaqat as ‘360 batter’ after explosive 96

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan’s emerging batting sensation Maaz Sadaqat has caught the attention of former West Indies fast bowler and renowned commentator Ian Bishop, who praised the youngster’s all-round stroke-making ability after his explosive performance against Sri Lanka in the second T20 International.

Bishop described the 21-year-old as a “nice 360 batter” after Sadaqat narrowly missed his maiden T20I century, powering Pakistan to a commanding 82-run victory at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

The victory gave Pakistan an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, with one game remaining.

Taking to social media platform X, Bishop recalled watching Sadaqat impress during the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2026, where the Pakistani batter represented Jamaica Kingsmen.

“We were happy to see the talent of Maaz Sadaqat in the CPL 2026 for the Jamaica Kingsmen. His good form continues for Pakistan, and we hope he has a long and successful career. He is a nice 360 batter,” Bishop wrote.

The endorsement from the respected commentator adds to the growing recognition of Sadaqat’s potential as he establishes himself on the international stage.

Sadaqat Dominates Sri Lankan Bowling Attack

Batting first, Pakistan posted an imposing 215-3 in their allotted 20 overs, with Sadaqat delivering the innings’ standout performance.

The left-handed batter smashed 96 off just 51 balls, striking six fours and seven sixes at a blistering strike rate of 188.23.

His aggressive approach kept Pakistan ahead of the scoring rate and put Sri Lanka’s bowlers under sustained pressure. Sadaqat came close to a maiden T20I century but fell just four runs short of the milestone.

Pakistan’s formidable total left the visitors facing a steep chase of 216 runs.

Sri Lanka struggled to build momentum in response and finished on 133-7 in their 20 overs, handing Pakistan a comprehensive win and confirming the series victory.

CPL Success Signals Growing Potential

Sadaqat’s performance against Sri Lanka continued the impressive form he displayed during his CPL campaign earlier this year.

Playing for Jamaica Kingsmen, the young batter finished as the tournament’s third-highest run-scorer, collecting 363 runs in seven matches at an average of 51.85 and a strike rate of 174.51.

His campaign included two centuries, underlining his ability to combine consistency with aggressive scoring against quality opposition.

Bishop’s reference to Sadaqat as a “360 batter” highlights his ability to score around the ground rather than relying on a limited range of shots.

With his domestic and franchise performances now translating into international success, Sadaqat has offered Pakistan an encouraging glimpse of his batting potential.

His next challenge will be to maintain that consistency and turn promising starts into major scores as he continues his development in international cricket.