Though Pakistan lost their T20I series in New Zealand by a margin of 2-1, veteran batsman Mohammad Hafeez continued his bright form by topping the batting charts for his team with 140 runs at 70.00. With his unbeaten 99 at Hamilton, the 40-year-old fell short of becoming only the second Pakistani to hit a T20I hundred. On that note, here is a look at the seven highest individual scores for Pakistan in men’s T20Is.
111* by Ahmed Shehzad v Bangladesh, Dhaka, 2013-14
Having notched the first 90-plus T20I score by a Pakistani seven months earlier, Shehzad bettered his own record in this World T20 group match. The opener batted through the innings, during which he faced 62 balls and hit ten fours and five sixes. He dominated a fourth-wicket stand of 83 with Shoaib Malik to lift Pakistan from 71/3 towards their eventual total of 190/5, which proved enough for a 50-run victory.
99* by Mohammad Hafeez v New Zealand, Hamilton, 2020-21
Hafeez became the fourth man to end up one short of a T20I ton, after Alex Hales, Luke Wright and Dawid Malan. Batting at number four, he held the fort as wickets fell at the other end – the score read 56/4 in the ninth over. He unleashed himself in the latter half and struck ten fours and five sixes in the course of his 57-ball stay, carrying the total to 163/6. However, the hosts took the series with a nine-wicket win.
98* by Ahmed Shehzad v Zimbabwe, Harare, 2013
Shehzad scored his second fifty in as many days (following 70 in the first match) to star in Pakistan’s 2-0 series sweep. His innings consumed 64 balls and featured six fours and as many sixes. His unbroken stand of 143 with captain Hafeez (54*) steered Pakistan to 179/1, leading to a 19-run win. With this, he went past Misbah-ul-Haq’s 87* against Bangladesh at Karachi in 2007-08 to make the highest T20I score for Pakistan.
97* by Babar Azam v West Indies, Karachi, 2017-18
The stylish Babar played a key role in Pakistan’s 3-0 success against the West Indies at the National Stadium – he was named Man of the Series for his 165 runs as opener. His best came in the second match, where his second-wicket stand of 119 with Hussain Talat (63) boosted Pakistan to 205/3. His 58-ball innings included 13 fours and a six. The bowlers finished it off, condemning the West Indies to defeat by 82 runs.
94 by Umar Akmal v Australia, Dhaka, 2013-14
This was a crucial World T20 fixture for both teams, and it was Pakistan who prevailed by 16 runs. Coming in at 25/2 in the fifth over, Akmal belted nine fours and four sixes in a 54-ball knock before being dismissed in the final over. Staring at a total of 191/5, Australia were reduced to 8/2 in the first over. Glenn Maxwell’s blazing 74 threatened to take the game away, but Pakistan fought back with timely wickets.
91 by Fakhar Zaman v Australia, Harare, 2018
Pakistan met Australia in the final of a tri-series also involving the hosts. Replying to 183/8, Pakistan were in trouble at 2/2. But Fakhar, who had scored 73 against Australia three days earlier, was in his element. The southpaw opener took charge, adding 107 with Shoaib Malik (43*) for the fourth wicket. His 46-ball gem was lit with 12 fours and three sixes, and helped Pakistan win by six wickets with four balls left.
90 by Babar Azam v South Africa, Johannesburg, 2018-19
The opening pair of Babar and Fakhar gave Pakistan a promising start in their chase of 189, putting on 45 in just four overs. Babar added a further 102 for the second wicket with Talat (55), before being dismissed off the first ball of the 17th over. He faced 58 balls in all, striking 13 fours and a six. His wicket was the breakthrough that the South Africans needed, and they held on for a series-clinching win by seven runs.
The Cricket Cauldron 