PAK vs AUS, 3rd ODI: Pakistan cricket team’s opener Maaz Sadaqat hit his head hard on the turf while trying to prevent a boundary in the third and final ODI against Australia on June 4, Thursday at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. In a video surfaced on social media, the 21-year-old could be seen hitting his head hard after going beyond the boundary line, bringing the injury into focus.
PAK vs AUS, 3rd ODI: Will a concussion replacement be called up for Maaz Sadaqat?
The incident occurred in the 10th over of the innings bowled by left-arm spinner Arafat Minhas as Marnus Labuschagne caressed the ball through point. With two fielders chasing the ball, Sadaqat pushed the ball back inside the boundary but went over the rope, followed by his head banging on the turf. A stretcher reportedly came on to the ground and while the youngster was walking, he was still being checked to see whether he has sustained any serious injury. There is no official announcement about a concussion substitute yet but it could be called up when Pakistan come out to bat.
🚨 Maaz Sadaqat hit his head and face on the ground while stopping a boundary🤯
-Hopefully, he is okay. pic.twitter.com/UbIlMeWGaC
— Mian Ahmad (@aHmADmIaN150) June 4, 2026
PAK vs AUS, 3rd ODI: Pakistan and Australia trade blows in low-scoring series
Contrary to the popular belief that dew could have a decisive say in the series, it has been a very low-scoring first two ODIs. Australia were undone by the spin twins of Arafat Minhas and Abrar Ahmed in the first game in Rawalpindi and couldn’t finish their quota of overs before being bowled out for 200. It wasn’t a straightforward chase but fifties from Babar Azam and Ghazi Ghori helped the home side achieve a five-wicket victory.
With Australia needing to level the series at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, they put on a much better batting performance if not a perfect one. Josh Inglis and Cameron Green scored hard-fought fifties, while Oliver Peake put his hand up at the death by cracking some boundaries to lift Australia to 231. In response, Pakistan stumbled to 33/3 and 80/6 to stare at a big defeat. But Arafat Minhas and Shadab Khan revived the host’s hopes with a 59-run stand until Nathan Ellis made the breakthrough. The likes of Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf resisted to keep Shadab Khan company as the hopes entirely rested on the latter. It was Shadab, who was the last man to be dismissed as the Men in Green collapsed for 190 to lose by 41 runs.
It is also worth noting that Pakistan have been decisive when it comes to ODI series-deciders against Australia. Out of five series-deciders since 1998, the Men in Green have won four.
