Cricket
Best Overseas Batsmen in PSL History
In a marquee year for cricket in Pakistan, days are very few until the 2025 Pakistan Super League season gets underway.
The ICC Champions Trophy set the pace for the domestic league, with inspiring performances with the bat and ball anticipated. Now in its 10th edition, the PSL continues to attract international interest and top-tier international stars have made a big impact.
Many of these overseas batters have brought their brand of big hitting and graceful strokeplay to the Pakistani T20 tournament. From current players to legends of the game, SportsBoom has looked at the best batsmen in Pakistan Super League history.
Quetta Gladiators' Rilee Rossouw plays a shot during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) /Getty Images
Top Foreign Players in PSL: Ranking the Big Hitters
To rank the greatest overseas batsmen in the Pakistan Super League annals, SportsBoom has considered the key batting metrics.
This list of the top five PSL batters is based on players’ respective performances in run-scoring, strike rate, and innings consistency.
According to a custom scoring formula, SportsBoom has assessed the best foreign batsmen to play in the Pakistan 20-over league.
PSL Top Overseas Performers: Batting Performance Table
| Player | PSL span | Matches | Runs | Highest score | Average | Strike rate | 100s | 6s |
| Rilee Rossouw | 2017-2024 | 84 | 2015 | 121 | 31.98 | 142.7 | 2 | 79 |
| Colin Munro | 2019-2024 | 47 | 1417 | 90* | 32.95 | 150.5 | - | 71 |
| Shane Watson | 2016-2020 | 46 | 1361 | 91* | 32.4 | 138.5 | - | 81 |
| Jason Roy | 2017-2024 | 38 | 1260 | 145* | 36 | 146.5 | 2 | 44 |
| Alex Hales | 2018-2024 | 44 | 1180 | 82* | 29.5 | 140.9 | - | 42 |
PSL Overseas Player Batting Stats: Methodology
To determine the best foreign batsman in the PSL record books, SportsBoom developed a performance-based score using four main metrics:
50% weightage has been given to total runs - measuring a player’s impact on the league and their longevity as a prolific scorer.
20% weightage has been given to strike rate - assessing a player’s aggression and ability to score above the number of balls faced.
20% weightage has been given to batting average - gauging a player’s consistency and aptitude at contributing regular solid scores.
10% weightage has been given to sixes - looking at a player’s power-hitting ability and skill at scoring maximums.
Top 5 Overseas Batsmen in PSL History
| Player | Runs | Average | Strike rate | 6s | Score (out of 100) |
| Rilee Rossouw | 2015 | 31.9 | 142.7 | 79 | 82.02 |
| Colin Munro | 1417 | 32.9 | 150.5 | 71 | 77.87 |
| Jason Roy | 1260 | 36.0 | 146.5 | 44 | 73.00 |
| Shane Watson | 1361 | 32.4 | 138.5 | 81 | 72.66 |
| Alex Hales | 1180 | 29.5 | 140.9 | 42 | 65.51 |
PSL Best International Batsmen: Player Insights
Rilee Rossouw: Multan Sultans/Quetta Gladiators
The South African left-hander has been one of the most consistent guests of the league, utilising finesse and power for impact.
He began his PSL career with Quetta Gladiators before joining Multan Sultans and then making a triumphant return to QG a second time.
Rilee Rossouw has proven his worth far exceeds his hefty price tag, winning the title with Quetta in 2019 and with Multan two years later.
In the 2022 season, he smashed 275 runs as MS reached the Pakistan Super League final, losing out against the Lahore Qalandars.
Rilee Rossouw has the most PSL runs by an overseas player and also ranks fifth on the list of all-time top run-scorers in the league.
Colin Munro: Karachi Kings/ Islamabad United
The New Zealander left-handed opening batter has a devastating batting style and excels at dominating the opening bowling attack.
He joined the Pakistan Super League with Karachi Kings in 2019, before becoming a mainstay at Islamabad United after his purchase.
Colin Munro has the highest strike rate out of the top 5 foreign batsmen in the PSL, earning good returns on every shot that he plays.
He has established himself as IU’s leading run-scorer, with scoring contributions helping his team win the title in 2018 and 2024.
One of Colin Munro’s strengths is his ability to strike from the first ball, helping Islamabad United dominate batting powerplay sessions.
Islamabad United's Colin Munro walks back to the pavilion/Getty Images
Jason Roy: Lahore Qalandars/Quetta Gladiators
The English top-order batsman is known for his fearless, swashbuckling style that made him a standout player in the Pakistan Super League.
He was brought in by Lahore Qalandars in the inaugural PSL season and then purchased by Quetta in 2018, not making much impression.
However, Jason Roy rose to prominence as the first pick of the 2020 draft, going on to score 233 runs in eight matches, including a 73 not out.
Anchoring innings and accelerating the pace to close out games became his hallmark as Roy established himself as a true danger batter.
He has the superior average among the top overseas PSL batsmen, although he could miss out on the action after going undrafted in 2025.
Shane Watson: Islamabad United/Quetta Gladiators
The Australian cultivated a reputation as one of the best all-rounders in T20Is, ranked as #1 for nearly three years cumulatively.
With almost unnatural composure in the face of any pressure, he brought the same dimension to the Pakistan Super League.
Beginning with Islamabad United in the first edition of the PSL, Shane Watson was snapped up by Quetta Gladiators in 2018.
In the same year that he joined Chennai Super Kings, the Australian showcased his innate ability to strike the ball hard and far.
His impressive tally of 81 sixes in the PSL is the record for a foreign player, with only Colin Munro within sight of that milestone.
Shane Watson was also the 2019 Pakistan Super League’s Player of the Tournament, scoring 430 runs in only 12 innings.
Quetta Gladiators Shane Watson plays a shot during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) /Getty Images
Alex Hales: Islamabad United/Karachi Kings
The Englishman joined the Pakistan Super League in 2018 with Islamabad United, scoring a record 87 not out from 32 balls that season.
He remained with the reigning champions consistently as a destructive batting talent, apart from two seasons he spent with Karachi Kings.
Alex Hales garnered a reputation for taking on pace bowling, epitomising the aggressive element many believed his national team missed.
His hard-hitting style proved impactful for Islamabad United, scoring the most runs in the 2022 season as his team lost in the playoffs.
Honourable Mentions
Chris Lynn: The Australian represented Lahore Qalandars and Multan Sultans. While his time in the PSL was short, his contributions included an unbeaten 113 in the final group-stage game of the 2020 season, helping LQ reach the playoffs for the first time.
Ben Dunk: Another Australian big hitter, his breakout PSL season came in 2020 with Lahore Qalandars, helping his team advance to the final. His best performance that year was 99 not out from 40 balls in the win over Karachi Kings.
David Wiese: Operating as an all-rounder, the South African-Namibian is able to bolster lower-order scoring and has a devious slower delivery. Drafted in by Lahore Qalandars as a replacement in 2019, he cemented his position with impressive displays of power hitting.
Eoin Morgan: The Irish-English middle-order batsman made a name in T20Is and carried that form over to a brief spell with Peshawar Zalmi. His performances for the PSL franchise included an unbeaten 80 from 57 runs in a win over Karachi Kings.
Best Overseas Batsmen in PSO History: FAQs
Shane Watson has the most sixes, 81.
Yes, Shane Watson and other overseas players have won most valuable player prizes.
Among the top scorers, Jason Roy holds the highest average – 36.00.
Bruce Douglas has more than 12 years of experience in local news media. He has worked at all levels of print and online publication, from crime and politics to photography, newspaper layout, proofreading, mentoring, sub-editing, and leading a newsroom. He played numerous sports at the school level and enjoys keeping up to date.