Babar Azam Returns to Domestic Red-Ball Cricket After Seven Years

Babar Azam's Comeback to Domestic Cricket

New Delhi, Sep 15: Babar Azam, the captain of Pakistan's Test team, is making his return to the domestic red-ball circuit for the first time in seven years as he seeks to regain his form.

His last appearance in domestic first-class cricket was in December 2019 when he led Central Punjab to victory in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. Now, he will represent the Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) in the ongoing President's Trophy Grade 1 first-class tournament, having been signed as a guest player.

Several other Pakistani internationals are also participating in the President’s Trophy, following the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) recent initiative encouraging established players to engage in domestic first-class matches. ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi is playing for KRL, while T20I skipper Salman Ali Agha is with Kingsmen Academy, as reported by local media.

According to OGDCL's sports head, Farah, Babar is expected to return to Pakistan from the UK on September 16 and will join the OGDCL team the following day. His equipment has been prepared, and he will determine whether to play in the second or third match upon his arrival.

Babar has faced criticism for his absence from domestic red-ball cricket. He has not achieved a century in Test matches since December 2022, when he scored 161 runs in a draw against New Zealand in Karachi. His Test average for 2023 stands at 30.43, which is significantly lower than his career average in the format.

Currently, Pakistan holds the ninth position in the ICC Test rankings and is at the bottom of the World Test Championship table, mirroring their position from the previous cycle. They have also struggled in recent ICC tournaments, failing to reach the knockout stages in the last four events, including an early exit from the home Champions Trophy in 2025 after losing their first two group matches against New Zealand and India.