T20 World Cup: Pakistan Drops Babar Azam, Breaks Partnership Record in Must-Win Clash
PALLEKELE – In a bold strategic overhaul that saw former captain Babar Azam omitted from the playing XI, Pakistan openers Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman established a new all-time partnership record for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup on Saturday.
Facing Sri Lanka in a critical Super 8 fixture at the Pallekele International Stadium, the duo amassed an opening stand of 176 runs, propelling Pakistan to a commanding first-innings total of 212. The partnership eclipsed the tournament record set earlier in this edition by New Zealand’s Finn Allen and Tim Seifert.
Record-Breaking Stand at Pallekele
Pakistan’s batting lineup, often criticized for slow starts, reversed the narrative with aggressive stroke play from the first over. The 176-run alliance is now the highest for any wicket in the history of the T20 World Cup and stands as the third-highest partnership for Pakistan in all T20 Internationals.
The breakthrough for Sri Lanka arrived late in the innings via Dushmantha Chameera. Bowling wide outside off, Chameera induced an inside edge from Fakhar Zaman, who had been shuffling across the crease, deflecting the ball onto the stumps. However, the damage to Sri Lanka’s semi-final aspirations was already inflicted.
Highest Partnerships in T20 World Cup History
The Pallekele surface assisted shot-making, allowing the Pakistani openers to surpass historical benchmarks, including the long-standing record held by Jos Buttler and Alex Hales from 2022.
| Runs | Batters | Team | Opponent | Venue/Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 176 | Sahibzada Farhan & Fakhar Zaman | PAK | Sri Lanka | Pallekele, 2026 |
| 175* | Tim Seifert & Finn Allen | NZ | UAE | Chennai, 2026 |
| 170* | Jos Buttler & Alex Hales | ENG | India | Adelaide, 2022 |
| 168 | Quinton de Kock & Rilee Rossouw | SA | Bangladesh | Sydney, 2022 |
| 166 | Mahela Jayawardene & Kumar Sangakkara | SL | West Indies | Barbados, 2010 |
Selection Shock: Babar Azam Omitted
Before the first ball was bowled, the major headline was the exclusion of Babar Azam. Following a string of low scores and strike-rate concerns, the team management made the difficult call to bench the former captain. Saim Ayub was also left out, paving the way for the new opening combination that ultimately paid dividends.
For official squad lists and player statistics, visit the ICC Official Website.
Fielding Errors Cost Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, already eliminated from semi-final contention following losses to England and New Zealand, struggled in the field. Two critical lapses allowed the partnership to flourish:
- Dropped Catch: Dunith Wellalage spilled a chance offered by Sahibzada Farhan when the batter was on 75.
- Boundary Error: Kamindu Mendis appeared to complete a catch when Farhan was on 76, but replays confirmed he stepped on the boundary cushion, resulting in six runs.
Semi-Final Qualification Scenarios
Despite the record-breaking innings, Pakistan’s path to the semi-finals remains dependent on Net Run Rate (NRR). Having entered the match following a narrow defeat to England, Pakistan must achieve a significant margin of victory to overtake New Zealand.
The Equation: Pakistan bowlers must restrict Sri Lanka to 147 runs or less to surpass New Zealand’s NRR and secure a semi-final berth.
Follow live updates and standings on ESPNcricinfo or the official Pakistan Cricket Board portal.