Cricket
Most Runs in PSL History: Top Scorers Ranked
The big guns are preparing for another action-packed season in the [Pakistan Super League](The big guns are preparing for another action-packed season in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).) (PSL).
Islamabad United's players hold the PSL trophy//Getty Images
Heading into the last six-team PSL campaign in April this year, the T20 league will follow the ICC Champions Trophy in a fantastic year for Pakistani cricket.
In 2024, Islamabad United claimed a third PSL title and captain Shadab Khan will be aiming to start the defending champions’ campaign strong.
However, league top-scorer Babar Azam would also be aiming to lead Peshawar Zalmi to its second trophy after ending as PSL runners-up three times.
With the competition set to expand from six franchises to eight in 2026, could Islamabad become the second team to successfully defend the league title?
Following the conclusion of the 2024 campaign, SportsBoom has analysed the latest statistics and performances to see how the top PSL run-scorers are shaping up.
Could some of the names on this list make PSL 2025 their marquee year?
Most Runs in PSL: 2016 to 2024
| Player | Innings | Runs | Best | Average |
| Babar Azam (Peshawar Zalmi) | 88 | 3,504 | 115 | 45.50 |
| Fakhar Zaman (Lahore Qalandars) | 84 | 2,525 | 115 | 30.42 |
| Mohammad Rizwan (Multan Sultans) | 72 | 2,403 | 110* | 41.43 |
| Shoaib Malik (Quetta Gladiators) | 87 | 2,336 | 73 | 33.37 |
| Rilee Rossouw (Quetta Gladiators) | 80 | 2,015 | 121 | 31.98 |
| Kamran Akmal (Peshawar Zalmi) | 74 | 1,972 | 107* | 27.38 |
| Mohammad Hafeez (Quetta Gladiators) | 74 | 1,731 | 98* | 27.47 |
| Sarfaraz Ahmed (Quetta Gladiators) | 73 | 1,525 | 81 | 29.32 |
| Shan Masood (Karachi Kings) | 52 | 1,476 | 88 | 28.38 |
| Colin Munro (Islamabad United | 47 | 1,417 | 90* | 32.95 |
Babar Azam: Peshawar Zalmi
The Peshawar Zalmi captain marked another impressive PSL season, extending his lead on the all-time runs chart as the top scorer in the 2024 edition.
In 11 innings, the right-hander scored 569 runs at an average of 56.90, top-scoring with 111*.
The 2024 PSL campaign cemented Babar’s place at the top of the list of highest PSL run-scorers with 3,504 runs from 88 innings at an impressive average of 45.50.
However, Peshawar fell short of the final with a loss to Islamabad United in Eliminator 2.
Fakhar Zaman: Lahore Qalandars
Last season was a tough one for the hard-hitting left-hander.
Despite holding the PSL record for the most sixes, most sixes in an innings, and most runs in a season, Fakhar Zaman could only muster 157 runs in 2024.
In eight innings, he averaged just 19.62 with a top score of 54 for Lahore.
As the PSL’s second-highest run-scorer in history - on 2,525 runs - many would expect Fakhar to bounce back in 2025 and help Lahore Qalandars claim a third title.
Mohammad Rizwan: Multan Sultans
Placing third for the most runs in the 2024 edition of the PSL, the wicket-keeper-batsman is being trusted to captain Multan Sultans to do better than runner-up in 2025.
His run-a-ball score of 26 was not enough to stop Islamabad in last year’s final.
However, the Multan skipper still managed 407 runs in 12 innings in 2024 at a solid average of 33.91, striking 33 fours and 15 sixes en route to the PSL final.
Rizwan will need to be a standout figure again for his team in the upcoming campaign.
The first Pakistan Super League hat-trick was in the first season, when Karachi Kings’ Mohammad Amir claimed three scalps in the 19th over against Lahore Qalandars.
Top Performers of 2024 PSL
Saim Ayub: Peshawar Zalmi
22-year-old Saim Ayub had a remarkable PSL season, scoring 345 runs for Peshawar and also claiming a handy eight wickets with his right-arm offbreak.
In the 2024 campaign, the left-handed batsman hit 27 fours and 21 sixes.
Ayub’s most notable contribution was a top score of 88 against Lahore Qalandars at their home ground - Gaddafi Stadium - for which he was named Player of the Match.
He also picked up two wickets for 15 in Peshawar’s loss to Islamabad a week later.
Ayub received another Player of the Match award with two wickets and 30 runs in a dominant 76-run win over Quetta Gladiators, which took his team to the playoffs.
Shadab Khan: Islamabad United
Scoring 305 runs in 12 innings and also claiming 14 wickets, Shadab Khan played a pivotal role in Islamabad’s journey to a record-setting third PSL trophy.
In the opening game of the 2024 edition, he top-scored with an unbeaten 74 from 41.
Shadab took two wickets for 24 runs in an early loss against Quetta Gladiators and another two wickets for 28 in a later loss against Peshawar.
He also notched 80 from 51 as Islamabad made a late resurgence in the 2024 PSL.
While Shadab’s batting impact was not felt in the final game against Multan, he took an important three wickets as Islamabad claimed victory off the last ball.
Key performances in the 2024 PSL season
Imad Wasim: Multan vs Islamabad (final)
Cricket is often a game won by the finest margins and Islamabad’s last-ball victory over Multan is among the closest finals the PSL has witnessed.
The Sultans won the toss and opted to bat first, setting a score of 159/7.
A half-century by New Zealand opener Martin Guptill set Islamabad on the right course but the loss of his wicket sparked a slump in the crucial final five overs.
However, Wasim held firm with an unbeaten 19 from 17 in the dying moments.
His contribution was enough to see Islamabad to a two-wicket victory and the 2024 PSL title after tail-ender Hunain Shah struck a four off the final ball.
Saud Shakeel: Lahore vs Quetta (Match 28)
With their place in the playoffs hanging in the balance, Quetta Gladiators faced a difficult challenge in a stubborn Lahore Qalandars side with nothing to lose.
Lahore chose to bat first and set the scoreboard at 166 thanks to half-centuries from Abdullah Shafique and captain Shaheen Shah Afridi.
The lynchpin of the Quetta innings was undoubtedly Player of the Match, Saud Shakeel.
With Jason Roy caught on just 18 runs and skipper Rilee Rossouw trapped in front on 13, Saud’s score of 88 from 65 balls became central to his side’s run chase.
Mohammad Wasim hit a last-ball six off Afridi to wrap up a slim win for Quetta.
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