Abdur Rauf: “Maaz Sadaqat is going to be the next big thing of [Pakistan] cricket”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Former fast bowler Abdur Rauf predicts up-and-coming all-rounder Maaz Sadaqat will be “the next big thing of [Pakistan] cricket”.
Sadaqat has been stealing the spotlight for quite some time now with his batting prowess and ability to chip in with the ball as well.
During the 2025 Asia Cup Rising Stars tournament, the 20-year-old played for the Pakistan Shaheens and finished as the top run-scorer with 258 runs in five matches, which included two fifties, at an average of 129 and a strike-rate of 177.93.
He was also the joint fourth-highest wicket-taker with seven wickets at an average of 7.42 and an economy rate of 4.33.
Sadaqat has also been brilliant on the domestic circuit in Pakistan as during the President’s Cup Grade-I (1-Day) competition, he was the fifth-highest run-scorer with 374 runs in seven games for Oil & Gas Development Company Limited, which included two hundreds and two half-centuries, at an average of 62.33.
Bowling-wise, he claimed four wickets at an average of 33.
Considering what he has seen from the Peshawar native, Rauf believes Pakistan have a superstar in the making.
“Maaz Sadaqat is going to be the next big thing of [Pakistan] cricket,” he said on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Pakistan are now involved in a three-match T20I series against Australia in Lahore, which they lead 2-0.
They will be looking to complete a 3-0 whitewash in the 3rd T20I on February 1.
After this, Pakistan will take part in the 2026 T20 World Cup and begin their campaign against the Netherlands on February 7 in Colombo.
Pakistan Squad for T20I series against Australia: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Salman Mirza, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wicketkeeper), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wicketkeeper), Usman Tariq
Pakistan Squad for 2026 T20 World Cup: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wicketkeeper), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wicketkeeper), Usman Tariq