Opening partnerships often set the tone in T20 cricket, and the Pakistan Super League has produced some remarkable starts at the top of the order. From explosive hitting to calculated acceleration, the best opening pairs have combined timing, power, and awareness to dominate bowling attacks. Over the years, several duos have crossed the 150-run mark, creating match-defining moments.
This list highlights the top 10 highest opening partnerships in PSL history, covering key details, match context, and the impact these stands had on the game.
Top 10 Highest Opening Partnerships In PSL History
The table below lists every 150-plus opening stand in PSL history. Sharjeel Khan features three times. Babar Azam features three times.
| Rank | Opening Pair | Runs | Team | Opposition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sharjeel Khan & Babar Azam | 176 | Karachi Kings | Islamabad United |
| 2 | Saim Ayub & Babar Azam | 162 | Peshawar Zalmi | Quetta Gladiators |
| 3 | Liam Livingstone & Babar Azam | 157 | Karachi Kings | Multan Sultans |
| 4 | Usman Khan & Mohammad Rizwan | 157 | Multan Sultans | Quetta Gladiators |
| 5 | Saud Shakeel & Jason Roy | 157 | Quetta Gladiators | Peshawar Zalmi |
| 6 | Will Smeed & Ahsan Ali | 155 | Quetta Gladiators | Peshawar Zalmi |
| 7 | Shane Watson & Sharjeel Khan | 153 | Islamabad United | Lahore Qalandars |
| 8 | Sahibzada Farhan & Alex Hales | 153 | Islamabad United | Karachi Kings |
| 9 | Sharjeel Khan & Babar Azam | 151* | Karachi Kings | Lahore Qalandars |
| 10 | Shan Masood & Mohammad Rizwan | 150 | Multan Sultans | Lahore Qalandars |
Match-By-Match Breakdown Of PSL’s Biggest Opening Stands
Below are the detailed context and scoring patterns for each of the top 10 PSL opening partnerships.
Sharjeel Khan And Babar Azam: 176 Vs Islamabad United (2021)
This Karachi Kings partnership sits at number one. It is the highest opening stand in PSL and was the highest partnership for any wicket until April 2026.
Sharjeel scored 105 off 61 balls. Babar made 62 off 54. Together they consumed almost 18 overs before being separated.
Saim Ayub And Babar Azam: 162 Vs Quetta Gladiators (2023)
Saim Ayub and Babar Azam produced this 162-run stand for Peshawar Zalmi at Rawalpindi on 8 March 2023.
They reached the total in just 13.3 overs. Saim hit boundaries freely while Babar rotated strike and picked gaps.
Liam Livingstone And Babar Azam: 157 Vs Multan Sultans (2019)
Liam Livingstone opened with Babar Azam for Karachi Kings at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on 15 February 2019.
Livingstone reached his fifty in 29 balls. Babar followed with a 39-ball half-century. They scored 53 in the power play alone.
Chris Green broke the stand in the 16th over. Livingstone fell for 82. Babar departed in the 18th for 77.
Usman Khan And Mohammad Rizwan: 157 Vs Quetta Gladiators (2023)
Usman Khan and Mohammad Rizwan added 157 runs in 10 overs for Multan Sultans at Rawalpindi on 11 March 2023.
Usman scored 120 off 43 balls. His 36-ball century is the fastest hundred in PSL history, overtaking Rilee Rossouw’s 41-ball effort from the previous day.
The pair added 50 in 4 overs and 91 in the powerplay. Multan posted 262/3 and won by 9 runs.
Saud Shakeel And Jason Roy: 157 Vs Peshawar Zalmi (2024)
Saud Shakeel and Jason Roy opened for Quetta Gladiators at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on 18 February 2024.
Jason Roy brought T20 World Cup experience to the top order. Saud Shakeel provided the left-right balance. Their stand sits joint-third on the PSL list.
Will Smeed And Ahsan Ali: 155 Vs Peshawar Zalmi (2022)
Will Smeed and Ahsan Ali added 155 for Quetta Gladiators at National Stadium, Karachi on 28 January 2022.
Smeed played through the innings for 97 off 62 balls with 11 fours and 4 sixes. Ahsan Ali hit 3 sixes and 8 fours in his 46-ball 73.
The pair brought up 50 in 31 balls and 100 in 65 balls.
Shane Watson And Sharjeel Khan: 153 Vs Lahore Qalandars (2016)
Shane Watson and Sharjeel Khan produced the first 150-plus opening stand in PSL. They opened for Islamabad United at Sharjah on 10 February 2016.
Watson combined Australian T20 know-how with Sharjeel’s attacking intent. Their partnership set the benchmark that other opening pairs chased for three years.
Sahibzada Farhan And Alex Hales: 153 Vs Karachi Kings (2025)
Sahibzada Farhan and Alex Hales produced the most recent entry on this list. They opened for Islamabad United at Rawalpindi on 19 May 2025.
Sahibzada Farhan has continued his form into PSL 2026. He currently sits among the top run-scorers with 249-plus runs at a strike rate of 180.
Sharjeel Khan And Babar Azam: 151* Vs Lahore Qalandars (2020)
This was an unbroken stand for Karachi Kings at National Stadium, Karachi, on 12 March 2020. The pair chased down 150 in just 17.1 overs without losing a wicket.
Sharjeel reached fifty in 40 balls. Babar got there in 36. Both batters were on 40 at the halfway stage of the innings.
It is the only unbeaten entry in the PSL top-10 opening partnership list.
Shan Masood And Mohammad Rizwan: 150 Vs Lahore Qalandars (2022)
Shan Masood and Mohammad Rizwan opened for Multan Sultans at Karachi on 29 January 2022. They chased a steep 207 target.
The pair added 50 in 27 balls and finished the powerplay on 66. Their platform set the foundation for the chase attempt.
Babar Azam: The King of PSL Opening Partnerships
Babar Azam features in three of the top nine PSL opening partnerships. No other batter matches this tally at the top of the order.
All three of Babar’s entries came while opening for Karachi Kings. He has partnered Sharjeel Khan twice and Liam Livingstone once. Saim Ayub then became his opening partner at Peshawar Zalmi in 2023.
Babar now captains Peshawar Zalmi in PSL 2026. His opening chemistry translated into a record 191-run second-wicket stand with Kusal Mendis in April 2026.
Karachi Kings: The Team With Most Dominant PSL Opening Pairs
Karachi Kings appear three times in the top 10 opening partnerships in PSL. All three stands featured Babar Azam.
| Team | Entries | Notable Partnership |
|---|---|---|
| Karachi Kings | 3 | Sharjeel Khan & Babar Azam (176) |
| Islamabad United | 2 | Shane Watson & Sharjeel Khan (153) |
| Multan Sultans | 2 | Usman Khan & Mohammad Rizwan (157) |
| Quetta Gladiators | 2 | Saud Shakeel & Jason Roy (157) |
| Peshawar Zalmi | 1 | Saim Ayub & Babar Azam (162) |
| Lahore Qalandars | 0 | No entry in the top 10 |
Lahore Qalandars are the only original PSL franchise without an entry. That looks odd on paper. Their opening options have changed frequently across seasons.
Venue Trends: Where PSL’s Biggest Opening Stands Happen
National Stadium, Karachi, hosts four of the top 10 PSL opening partnerships. Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium hosts three.
Venue-wise split:
- Karachi: 4 partnerships (Rank 1, 6, 9, 10)
- Rawalpindi: 3 partnerships (Rank 2, 4, 8)
- Dubai: 1 partnership (Rank 3)
- Lahore: 1 partnership (Rank 5)
- Sharjah: 1 partnership (Rank 7)
Karachi and Rawalpindi dominate because the PSL shifted most matches to Pakistan after 2017. Batting-friendly pitches at both grounds help explain the pattern.
Who Holds The Record For The Highest Opening Partnership In PSL?
Sharjeel Khan and Babar Azam hold the record with a 176-run stand for Karachi Kings. They set it at the National Stadium, Karachi, on 24 February 2021.
The pair started slowly with just 33 runs in the power play. Sharjeel then flipped the switch. He finished with a 55-ball hundred, scoring 94 off his last 45 deliveries
Babar Azam played the supporting act with 62 off 54 balls. Their stand lifted Karachi Kings to 196/3.
Here is the ironic part. Islamabad United still chased the total with five wickets to spare. Sometimes the bowlers win, not the scoreboard.
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PSL 2026 Update: Any New Entries?
No new opening partnership has broken into the top 10 during PSL 2026 so far. The tournament runs through 3 May 2026.
The 191-run stand between Kusal Mendis and Babar Azam for Peshawar Zalmi is the highest partnership for any wicket in PSL history. However, it was a second-wicket stand after Mohammad Haris fell for 0.
So Sharjeel Khan and Babar Azam’s 176 still leads the PSL opening partnership records.
Final Word: Sharjeel Khan And Babar Azam Top The List Of PSL’s Best Opening Pairs With 176 Runs!
The PSL has consistently showcased high-quality opening combinations, with a few standout pairs rewriting record books. While Sharjeel Khan and Babar Azam remain at the top with their iconic 176-run stand, several other partnerships have come close, reflecting the league’s competitive nature.
As PSL 2026 progresses, new opening duos continue to emerge with the potential to challenge these records. Given the batting-friendly conditions and evolving team strategies, it may only be a matter of time before another historic opening stand reshapes this elite list.
