​Sahibzada Farhan: Record-Breaking National T20 Cup Star Without a PSL Contract​

​Sahibzada Farhan, a 29-year-old Pakistani cricketer from Charsadda, has recently made headlines with his exceptional performances in domestic T20 cricket. On March 21, 2025, while representing the Peshawar Region in the National T20 Cup, Farhan scored an unbeaten 162 off 72 balls against the Quetta Region at the Multan Cricket Stadium. This remarkable inning, featuring 14 fours and 11 sixes, surpassed Kamran Akmal’s previous national record of 150 runs set in 2017. 

T20 batting performance over the past five years:​

Farhan’s 162* is not only the highest individual score by a Pakistani in T20 cricket but also ties for the third-highest individual score in T20 history, alongside Zimbabwe’s Hamilton Masakadza and Afghanistan’s Hazratullah Zazai. The record is led by Chris Gayle’s 175* and Aaron Finch’s 172. ​

Throughout the 2024–25 National T20 Cup, Farhan’s consistency was evident as he amassed 605 runs, earning him the Player of the Series award. His contributions were pivotal in leading Peshawar to the tournament final, where they finished as runners-up to Lahore Blues. 

Despite his domestic success, Farhan’s international T20 career has been modest. Since his debut in 2018, he has played nine T20Is for Pakistan, with a batting average of 9.5.

In the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Farhan has had limited opportunities. He was part of Islamabad United during the 2018 and 2019 seasons and was picked by Lahore Qalandars in the 2023 PSL draft. However, as of the 2025 season, he does not hold a PSL contract.

Farhan’s situation highlights the challenges faced by domestic players in securing and maintaining spots in high-profile leagues like the PSL, despite outstanding performances at the national level.

In the Pakistan Super League (PSL) over various seasons:

Overall, across these four PSL seasons, Sahibzada Farhan has played 22 innings, scoring a total of 457 runs at an average of 25.38 and a strike rate of 119.94.