As Pakistan thrive at WTC, Babar Azam returns to domestic cricket for first time in 7 years

Pakistan Test captain Babar Azam will return to domestic red-ball cricket for the first time in seven years. The development, reported by The Dawn, comes after Pakistan’s storming outing in the three-match Test series against England where they suffered a 3-0 whitewash.

Babar’s own batting in the Test format has been under scrutiny for several years now. In the calendar years 2023, 2024 and 2025, he averaged only 22, 20 and 31 in the tests.

Despite a long run in the format, Babar has not returned to domestic first-class cricket since 2019. His last appearance came when he led Central Punjab to the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, defeating Northern by an innings and 16 runs in the final on 30 December 2019.

Now, almost seven years later, Babar is set to return to the red-ball domestic circuit with Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) in the ongoing President’s Trophy Grade-I.

Department sports chief Farah Batool confirmed to The Dawn that Babar will join the OGDCL team after returning to Pakistan from the UK on September 16.

“Babar will arrive back in Pakistan from UK on September 16 and join the OGDCL unit the next day,” Farah said. “His kit has been ordered.

However, Babar’s involvement may not start immediately. OGDCL are currently playing their President’s Trophy opener in Islamabad on Pakistan Television. They will then take on Kingsmen Academy in Peshawar from September 18, followed by a match against Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) from September 24.

“Babar will decide after his arrival whether he will play from the second or third game,” Farah said.

The Dawn reported that Babar was offered to OGDCL by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as a guest player.

His return comes amid the PCB’s push to involve established Pakistan internationals in domestic first-class cricket. Pakistan’s white-ball captains are also in the competition, with ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi representing KRL and T20I captain Salman Ali Agha playing for the Kingsmen Academy.

BABAR’S TEST PALTING UNDER CONTROL

Babar was reappointed as Pakistan’s Test captain in July, but his second stint in charge began with mixed results. Pakistan drew their two-Test series against the West Indies 1-1 before suffering a 3-0 defeat against England.

The captain’s own batting also remained a major point of discussion.

Babar has not scored a Test century in the last four years. He showed signs of a return to form during Pakistan’s tour of the West Indies, where he was named player of the series after topping the batting charts with 196 runs in two Tests.

However, the England series brought another difficult chapter. Babar missed the opening Test due to injury before returning to score eight, six, seven and 76 in his four innings in the next two matches.

His return to domestic red-ball cricket therefore comes at an important moment in his career.

For the first time since 2019, Babar will have the opportunity to spend time in the longer format away from the pressure of international cricket. With Pakistan’s Test fortunes under serious scrutiny and his own batting numbers falling well below his previous standards, the President’s Trophy could provide the former No.1 batsman with an opportunity to rediscover his rhythm in the format.

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Issued by:

Kingshuk Kusari

Published on:

15 Sep 2026, 9:50 AM IST