Pakistan batter Babar Azam is set to return to the country’s domestic red-ball circuit for the first time since 2019. The Pakistan captain will represent Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) in the ongoing President’s Trophy Grade-I after being included as a guest player by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
The PCB wants to bring more established international players back into domestic first-class cricket. Notably, Pakistan endured a difficult Test campaign in England, where they suffered a 3-0 series defeat. The board also sacked the coaching staff and dropped seven senior players midway through the tour.
Babar Azam Joins OGDCL for President’s Trophy Campaign
Babar Azam will make his first domestic first-class appearance since December 2019, when he led Central Punjab to the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy title after beating Northern by an innings and 16 runs in the final.
OGDCL sports head Farah Batool confirmed that Babar will return to Pakistan from the UK on September 16 and join the team the following day. His playing kit has already been ordered, although he will decide after arriving when he makes his first appearance.
OGDCL are currently playing Pakistan Television in their opening match in Islamabad. Their next fixture is against Kingsmen Academy in Peshawar from September 18, followed by a clash against Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) from September 24.
Babar could therefore feature in either of those matches. The President’s Trophy already features several Pakistan internationals, with ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi representing KRL and T20I captain Salman Ali Agha playing for Kingsmen Academy.
Babar Azam Looks to Regain Test Form After England Struggles
Babar Azam was reappointed Pakistan’s Test captain in July and led the team to a 1-1 series draw in the West Indies before the 3-0 defeat in England.
The batter scored 196 runs in two Tests and finished as Pakistan’s leading run-scorer in the Caribbean. Babar also won the Player of the Series award. However, he struggled during the England series.
After missing the first Test at Headingley due to injury, Babar returned at Lord’s and scored only eight and six. He then managed seven in the first innings at Edgbaston before ending the series with a fighting 76 off 103 balls, including 11 fours and a six.
Babar has now gone more than four years without a Test century. Overall, he has scored 4,771 runs in 122 Test innings at an average of 42.98, with nine centuries and 34 half-centuries. His return to first-class cricket could give him valuable time in the longer format.
Pakistan’s Test Crisis Adds Pressure on Babar Azam
Pakistan are currently ninth in the Test rankings with 71 rating points and sit at the bottom of the World Test Championship standings.
The Men in Green lost the final Test at Edgbaston by eight wickets despite a stronger batting effort in the second innings. Razaullah smashed 81 runs with nine sixes, while Shan Masood scored 95 and Babar Azam made 76. England chased down 130 through Joe Root and Jordan Cox.
The PCB has brought established players back into domestic first-class cricket. The move gives senior players more red-ball cricket ahead of Pakistan’s upcoming Test assignments.
Also read: Shoaib Akhtar lauds Razaullah’s fearless knock; takes a dig at Babar Azam’s intent in Edgbaston Test
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