Cricket’s abbreviated game format is called Twenty20 (T20). The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) first used it at the highest level in the year 2003 for the inter-county competition. The sport has been successful in gaining traction among cricket fans. Most international tours include at least one Twenty20 game, and every country that participates in Test cricket has a domestic cup competition.
After the 2007 World Twenty20 gained prominence, other T20 leagues were established. Following that, a number of leagues made their debuts and quickly became popular with fans, including the Big Bash League, Bangladesh Premier League, Pakistan Super League, Caribbean Premier League, and Afghanistan Premier League. Pakistan team have also been among the most indulging teams in the current cricketing setup. The Pakistan team have also won the major T20 World Cup title in the year 2009, and ever since then, the team have faced a roller coaster ride.
Let us now look at the Top 3 highest opening partnerships by Pakistan in T20I cricket:
1. 203*-Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan vs Eng in 2022
Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are among the most decorated and successful opening partners in the history of T20 cricket for Pakistan. Both players have been known for putting out a great show with the bat whenever they both bat together.
Similarly, in a match against England, the duo combined together to make a total of 200 ridiculously easy when they both combined together to chase down the target comfortably without any harm. Both these players registered a partnership of 203 for the first wicket and also took the team home.
2. 197-Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan vs SA in 2021
Babar and Rizwan registered yet another opening score of 197 in a chase of 204 runs to chase the target against South Africa. Chasing a high total of 204 to win both the openers blasted the South African bowling all around the park and stitched together a partnership of 197 runs. The skipper Babar was the chief attacker in the partnership when he blasted off a match-winning 122 runs.
3. 158-Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan vs WI in 2021
As rated by many cricket fans and experts, both Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam are the most successful as well as frightening opening pair in international T20 cricket. In a match against West Indies, chasing a high total of 208 runs to win, the duo once stood tall and went on to register a total of 158 runs in the opening stand in just 91 balls to help Pakistan win the match and also the series.