Pakistan Test captain Babar Azam has taken immediate action to arrest a prolonged dip in performance by returning to domestic red-ball cricket after a break of nearly seven years.
Following a dismal individual and collective campaign in England, the top-order batter has signed as a guest player for Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) in the President’s Trophy Grade-I competition. The decision, reported by ESPNcricinfo, underscores Babar’s determination to rebuild his batting rhythm in the longest format after struggling on foreign soil.
Pakistan suffered a historic 3-0 series whitewash on English soil, enduring heavy defeats in the first two Tests at Leeds and Lord’s. While the visitors displayed greater resilience in the final Test at Edgbaston, Babar’s personal tally across the tour reflected his ongoing technical battles. Prior to a fighting contribution in the second innings at Edgbaston, his preceding scores were a solitary 8, 6, and 7.
The high-profile right-hander has not featured in domestic first-class cricket since December 2019, when he captained Central Punjab to the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy title. His protracted absence from the local four-day scene has drawn significant criticism from former players and analysts, particularly as his international numbers in Test cricket began to falter.
Babar has not registered a Test century since December 2022, when he made 161 against New Zealand in a drawn match in Karachi. Since the start of 2023, his Test batting average has dropped sharply to 30.43 — a steep fall of 12.55 runs compared to his overall career average.
His return aligns with a broader initiative by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to enforce the participation of established international players in domestic red-ball tournaments. Several national teammates are already active in the President’s Trophy; One-Day International captain Shaheen Shah Afridi is representing Khan Research Laboratories (KRL), while T20 International skipper Salman Ali Agha is playing for Kingsmen Academy.
Farah, the head of the sports department at OGDCL, confirmed that Babar will fly back to Pakistan from the UK on 16 September and join the squad the following day. His playing kit has been prepared, with Babar set to decide upon arrival whether he will make his appearance in the team’s second or third match of the tournament.
By subjecting himself to the rigours of domestic first-class conditions, Babar aims to spend valuable time at the crease, navigate the new ball, and restore the composure that previously made him one of world cricket’s most formidable batters.
