Watch: Top five batsmen of Pakistan Super League

Pakistan Super League (PSL) where most of the time, batters have found it difficult to score runs because of the quality bowlers possess but few have spark brilliance with their bat and have played memorable innings.

Colin Ingram’s highest individual score of PSL history against Quetta Gladiators last year, Kamran Akmal hundreds on two occasions, aggressive Sharjeel Khan 117 in the first edition but being the top runs scorer doesn’t require individual brilliance but showing consistency throughout the competition.

Talking about some of the reliable batsmen from the past four seasons, here are the top-five highest run-getters of PSL.

1- Kamran Akmal

1286 runs, 46 innings, 29.22 average, 134.51 strike rate, 9 fifties, 2 hundred, 107* highest score, 127 fours, 67 sixes

It would be underestimating to say that the wicket-keeper batsman Kamran Akmal is arguably the most consistent batsman in all previous editions. He also holds the record of the only batsman to score two hundred in the league history. His performances have led Peshawar Zalmi to become champions in 2017 and runner-up for two-times.

2- Shane Watson

1114 runs, 37 innings, 33.75 average, 135.03 strike rate, 7 fifties, 91* highest score, 97 fours, 65 sixes

The only foreigner to make on the list is Explosive Australian opener, known for dominating franchise cricket all over the globe has also the highest average among the other five. The 38-year-old has been an integral part of the Quetta Gladiators in the past two editions and this time around will be accompanied by English opener Jason Roy at the top.

3- Babar Azam

1043 runs, 34 innings, 32.59 average, 115.37 strike rate, 9 fifties, 77 highest score, 108 fours, 18 sixes

T20I skipper of Pakistan, after a disastrous first edition was at the best of his game in the past three seasons for Karachi Kings. He has been playing an anchor role with and his strike-rate depicts this too. His role will be the same too as he will be joined by two explosive batters, Sharjeel Khan and Alex Hales. It will also be interesting to see who will open the proceedings for the Kings’ in this edition.

4- Ahmed Shehzad

1016 runs, 36 innings, 29.88 average, 121.96 strike rate, 9 fifties, 99 highest score, 104 fours, 29 sixes

Ahmed Shehzad led the table once but after a bad third edition, his record went down a little. Despite all this, he along with Babar and Kamran have the joint-most fifty-plus scores in league’s history (9 fifties). The 28-year-old after making a comeback in the national side after performing in PSL last year will again try to make a mark in front of the home crowd. Cricket fans are also eager to witness on which position he will bat in the presence of Roy and Watson at the top pf the order for Gladiators.

5- Shoaib Malik

849 runs, 36 innings, 30.32 average, 118.41 strike rate, 4 fifties, 65 highest score, 47 fours, 33 sixes

“Silent-killer” will be a perfect name for Shoaib Malik as his records show that his runs have usually come in crucial times for the teams. He will be representing Peshawar Zalmi after playing for Karachi Kings and Multan Sultans for two editions respectively.

The PSL fifth edition is just a week away now, the jubilating opening ceremony will be held on February 20 with defending champions Quetta Gladiators take on two-time champions Islamabad United.

It would also be interesting to see who will lead the chart of the highest-run getter or again these batters will rule this time around too.

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