The Pakistan cricket team holds the records for the highest partnership in Asia Cup history.

Umar Akmal and Shoaib Malik’s 114-run partnership for the fourth wicket against UAE in the 2016 Asia Cup is the record stand in the tournament for T20I matches. While Akmal contributed 50 runs, Shoaib Malik hit 63 runs off 49 balls enroute to winning the Player of the Match award.

Their efforts helped Pakistan chase 130 in 18.4 overs to seal a seven-wicket victory.

Dinesh Chandimal and Tillakaratne Dilshan’s opening stand of 110 runs against Pakistan takes up the second spot on the list for highest partnership in T20I Asia Cup matches. 

With Sri Lanka put to bat first, Chandimal and Dilshan provided the Lankan Lions with a confident start until the former departed in the 15th over. Sri Lanka ended up scoring 150/4 in their 20 overs and eventually lost the game by six wickets.

India’s Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli recorded the team’s highest partnership in a T20I fixture at the Asia Cup. Going up against Bangladesh in the final of the 2016 edition, Dhawan and Kohli stitched a 94-run partnership for the second wicket to propel the Indian cricket team to their sixth Asian Cup triumph courtesy an eight-wicket victory.

Muhammad Kaleem’s partnerships with Mohammad Shahzad (86, UAE vs Oman, 2016) and Rohan Mustafa (83, UAE vs Afghanistan, 2016) round up the top five list for highest partnership in Asia Cup T20I matches.

Highest partnership in Asia Cup (T20I)

Batters

Opponent

Partnership runs

Year

Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik

UAE

114*

2016

Dinesh Chandimal, Tillakaratne Dilshan

Pakistan

110

2016

Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli

Bangladesh

94

2016

Muhammad Kaleem, Mohammad Shahzad

Oman

86

2016

Rohan Mustafa, Muhammad Kaleem

Afghanistan

83

2016

Mohammad Hafeez and Nasir Jamshed hold the ODI record for the highest partnership in Asia Cup history.

Opening for Pakistan against India in a 2012 Asia Cup match, Hafeez and Jamshed recorded a 224-run partnership to set the platform for Pakistan to score 329/6 in the first innings. Their efforts, however, ended in a losing cause as India claimed a six-wicket victory thanks to Virat Kohli’s 148-ball 183.

The 224-run Mohammad Hafeez-Nasir Jamshed partnership bettered a previous record set by Pakistan’s Shoaib Malik and Younis Khan. The duo put on 223 runs together against Hong Kong in 2004 and helped Pakistan to a 173-run win (D/L method).

India’s Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane set the team’s highest partnership in an ODI at the Asia Cup.

Going up against Bangladesh in the second match of the 2014 edition, Kohli and Rahane stitched a 213-run partnership for the third wicket to propel the Indian cricket team to chase 280 in 49 overs and seal a six-wicket victory.

Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan (210 vs Pakistan, 2018) and, Moin-ul-Atiq and Ijaz Ahmed (205 vs Bangladesh, 1988) complete the top five highest partnerships in Asia Cup for ODI matches.

Highest partnership in Asia Cup (ODI)

Batters

Opponent

Partnership runs

Year

Mohammad Hafeez, Nasir Jamshed

India

224

2012

Shoaib Malik, Younis Khan

Hong Kong

223

2004

Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane

Bangladesh

213

2014

Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan

Pakistan

210

2018

Moin-ul-Atiq, Ijaz Ahmed

Bangladesh

205

1988

Author: William Paul

Featured photo: AFP / MUNIR UZ ZAMAN