ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Mehran Mumtaz made headlines during the 15th match of the National T20 Cup 2025, representing Rawalpindi against Faisalabad.
The 21-year-old left-arm spinner smashed his maiden T20 half-century in just 20 balls while batting at the unlikely position of No. 9.
A seasoned player with experience in Pakistan’s U16 and U19 teams, as well as stints in the Pakistan Super League, Mumtaz had previously participated in 21 first-class and 40 List-A matches.
Despite being selected for the Pakistani Test squad during last year’s second and third Tests against England, he had not surpassed a score of 46 until this electrifying performance on March 18.
Entering the fray with Rawalpindi struggling at 119-7 in pursuit of 208 runs, Mumtaz wasted no time in making his mark.
He launched his innings with a boundary, driving his very first ball past mid-off, followed by a stunning shot over extra cover, quickly establishing his intent.
His inventive scoops and audacious strokes left the Faisalabad bowlers scrambling in disarray.
Mumtaz’s explosive innings culminated in a commendable 51 runs off just 24 deliveries before he was finally dismissed.
Despite his heroics, Rawalpindi ultimately fell short, bowled out for 183 and losing the match by 24 runs.
Prior to this stunning showcase, Mumtaz’s T20 statistics were modest, with 12 innings yielding just 56 runs at an average of 5.6 and a strike rate of 114.28.
His remarkable performance not only defied expectations given his batting history but also marked a rare feat in Pakistan’s T20 landscape.
It was only the second instance since 2008 that a player had scored a half-century while batting at No. 9 or below.
At just 21, Mumtaz has also become the second youngest player to achieve a T20 fifty from such a low batting position.
Overall, this thrilling innings marked only the 14th time in men’s T20 history that a batter has reached fifty while batting at No. 9 or lower.
