{
  "id": 7506914,
  "title": "Babar Azam Set to Make Domestic Red-Ball Comeback After 7 Years",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/babar-azam-set-to-make-domestic-red-ball-comeback-after-7-years",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-09-15T07:51:49.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ProPakistani",
    "slug": "propakistani",
    "url": "https://propakistani.pk/2026/09/15/babar-azam-set-to-make-domestic-red-ball-comeback-after-7-years/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Pakistan's Test captain Babar Azam is poised to make his return to domestic red-ball cricket after an absence of seven years. The 31-year-old, currently representing Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) in the President’s Trophy Grade-I tournament, is expected to play in the matches for the OGDCL team. Babar is set to return to Pakistan on September 16 and will join the OGDCL squad the following day, as confirmed by OGDCL’s sports head Farah Batool. The right-handed batter last played domestic first-class cricket in December 2019, leading Central Punjab to the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy title. Babar has also served as Pakistan's Test captain since July 2021, leading the national side in two series. In recent matches, Pakistan faced the West Indies and England, with the latter resulting in a 3-0 series defeat. OGDCL is currently playing against Pakistan Television (PTV) in their opening match of the President’s Trophy in Islamabad, with the team set to face Kingsmen Academy in Peshawar on September 18 before facing Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) on September 24. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) offered Babar to OGDCL as a guest player, with the return of established international players being emphasized by the PCB. Shaheen Shah Afridi, Pakistan's ODI captain, will represent KRL, while T20I skipper Salman Ali Agha will play for Kingsmen Academy as vice-captain.",
  "summary": "Babar Azam is set to make his domestic red-ball comeback after seven years, with the Pakistan Test captain expected to … Read More The post Babar Azam Set to Make Domestic Red-Ball Comeback After 7 Years appeared first on ProPakistani .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}