Babar Azam returns to domestic cricket after 7 years
Pakistan’s 3-0 series defeat to England, followed by their WTC points deduction for slow over rate at Edgbaston, have left the Men in Green in ninth place in the ICC Test rankings and at the bottom of the nine-team World Test Championship table, same as in the last cycle. There were wholesale changes to the team that played the third Test, with seven players being sent home, leaving skipper Babar…
Babar Azam, the Pakistani cricket star, is set to resume domestic cricket after a seven-year hiatus. The 31-year-old batsman, who recently returned to action in the second innings of the final Test against England, will now play for Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) in the President’s Trophy Grade 1 first-class tournament.
This move comes as Pakistan's cricket board recognizes the importance of top players staying engaged in domestic cricket to maintain their skills and form. Babar's last domestic first-class appearance was in December 2019 when he led Central Punjab to the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy title. His decision to join OGDCL aligns with the PCB's recent push for experienced players to participate in domestic first-class cricket.
The Pakistani captain will return to Pakistan on September 16, joining the OGDCL squad the following day. His kit has already been ordered, and Babar will determine his participation based on the match schedule.
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