Pakistan Test captain Babar Azam is set to return to first-class cricket after a seven-year absence, with the experienced batter joining Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) as a guest player in the ongoing President’s Trophy Grade-I competition.
Babar last featured in first-class cricket in 2019, when he represented Central Punjab in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. His return comes during a period in which the right-hander has been looking to rediscover his consistency with the bat.
Babar’s Recent Test Form Under Scrutiny
The former Pakistan captain has not scored a Test century since December 2022. His batting numbers have also declined since the beginning of 2023, during which he has averaged 30.43.
Babar has managed only eight half-centuries across his last 39 innings during this period. His highest score since his most recent Test hundred is 88, which he made in the second Test against the West Indies last month.
His return to domestic first-class cricket provides an opportunity for Babar to spend more time in the longer format and work on his batting ahead of Pakistan’s future Test commitments.
OGDCL Added to President’s Trophy
OGDCL was added to the President’s Trophy after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) removed WAPDA (Water and Power Development Authority) and Sahir Associates from the competition.
The two teams were excluded after failing to meet the regulations set for the current domestic season.
Babar is not the only senior Pakistan international returning to first-class cricket. Fast bowler Shaheen Afridi has also featured in domestic first-class cricket for the first time in nine years.
Salman Ali Agha is another Pakistan player taking part in the competition. The all-rounder was among seven players sent back from the tour of England and has made an immediate impact, scoring an unbeaten 300 for Kingsmen Academy.
Pressure on Pakistan’s Test Team
Pakistan’s Test performances remain under close scrutiny following a difficult run of results. The team dropped to ninth in the Test rankings after suffering a 3-0 series defeat to England.
Pakistan are also ninth in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) standings, increasing the importance of stronger performances in the longer format.
Babar’s return to first-class cricket comes against that backdrop, with the Pakistan captain now set to gain valuable domestic match practice in the President’s Trophy.
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