Pakistan Test captain Babar Azam will return to domestic first-class cricket for the first time in nearly seven years, joining the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) as a guest player for the President’s Trophy Grade-I.
The move follows Babar’s personal request to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to regain rhythm in the longest format. The right-hander has not scored a Test century since recording 161 against New Zealand in December 2022, a drought that has lasted nearly four years.
Babar last participated in a domestic first-class match in December 2019, when he led Central Punjab to the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy title. Since then, he has been absent from the domestic red-ball circuit, but a 3-0 series sweep by England has placed his recent Test output under scrutiny.
According to OGDCL official Farah Batool, the captain is scheduled to return to Pakistan from the United Kingdom shortly. “Babar will arrive back in Pakistan from the UK on Sept 16 and will join the OGDCL squad the next day. His kit has been ordered. Babar will decide upon his arrival if he plays from the second match or the third match,” Batool stated.
Should Babar feature in the second round starting September 18 in Peshawar, he will face a Kingsmen Academy side that includes international teammate Salman Ali Agha. A third-round appearance would pit him against a KRL side featuring Shaheen Shah Afridi. This domestic stint aligns with a PCB mandate requiring top-tier Test specialists to participate in at least six first-class matches annually to maintain national eligibility.
The decision occurs as Pakistan sits ninth in the ICC Test rankings and at the bottom of the World Test Championship table. Babar’s return to the domestic level is intended to address his individual form while the national side struggles to secure results in the longest format.
OGDCL seeks to improve its standing after an opening-round loss to PTV. The team has also been managing the absence of Imam-ul-Haq, who was reportedly withdrawn from the first round following a failed fitness test.
