Pakistan Test captain Babar Azam is set to return to domestic first-class cricket with OGDCL after last appearing in the format in December 2019.
Pakistan Test captain Babar Azam is set to return to domestic red-ball cricket after nearly seven years away from the country’s first-class circuit. According to reports, the star batter will represent Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) in the ongoing President’s Trophy Grade-I competition.
Babar’s return has been confirmed by OGDCL sports head Farah Batool, who said the batter is expected to arrive back in Pakistan from the United Kingdom on September 16 and join the OGDCL squad the following day. His kit has reportedly already been ordered for the domestic campaign.
The 31-year-old last played a domestic first-class match in December 2019. At that time, he was leading Central Punjab and guided the side to the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy title after defeating Northern by an innings and 16 runs in the final.
Since then, Babar has become one of Pakistan’s most prominent international batters and has spent much of his career concentrating on international cricket and franchise competitions. His return to first-class cricket is therefore being viewed as an important step, particularly after recent scrutiny of his Test batting form.
Babar was reappointed Pakistan’s Test captain in July and has since led the side in two Test series. Pakistan drew their two-Test series against the West Indies 1-1 before suffering a 3-0 whitewash against England. During the England series, Babar scored 8, 6, 7 and 76 in his four innings after missing the opening Test because of injury.
His domestic return could provide valuable time in the middle and an opportunity to work on his red-ball game away from the pressure of international cricket. Babar also had a positive two-Test series in the West Indies, where he was named Player of the Series after scoring 196 runs.
OGDCL are already involved in the President’s Trophy, with their opening fixture against Pakistan Television in Islamabad. Their next match is against Kingsmen Academy in Peshawar from September 18, followed by a fixture against Khan Research Laboratories from September 24. Babar will decide after joining the squad whether he plays the second or third match.
Babar’s expected return also comes as the PCB encourages established international players to participate more regularly in domestic first-class cricket. Shaheen Shah Afridi is already representing KRL, while T20I captain Salman Ali Agha is playing for Kingsmen Academy. The move could give Pakistan’s senior players more exposure to red-ball cricket before the next phase of the Test calendar.
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