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- By Sunny Daud
- Tue, 15 Sep 2026 01:34 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Pakistan Test captain Babar Azam is set to make his return to domestic first-class cricket after almost seven years, as he looks to find his best form in the longest format of the game. Babar had a forgetful outing in the recently concluded three Test match series against England where Pakistan suffered a 3-0 whitewash.
Babar has signed with Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) as a guest player and will feature in the ongoing President’s Trophy Grade 1 tournament.
The last time Babar played domestic first-class cricket was in December 2019, when he captained Central Punjab to the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy title.
When will Babar join the OGDCL team?
Babar is currently in the UK and is expected to return to Pakistan on September 16. He will then join the OGDCL squad on September 17.
OGDCL sports head Farah said Babar could make his first appearance either in the team’s second match or third match of the tournament.
“Babar will decide upon his arrival if he plays from the second match or the third match,” Farah was quoted as saying by Dawn.
The department has already ordered his playing kit ahead of his arrival.
Who else is playing in the President’s Trophy?
Babar is not the only big Pakistan name taking part in the domestic tournament. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has recently pushed established international players to return to domestic first-class cricket.
ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi is representing KRL, while T20I captain Salman Ali Agha is playing for Kingsmen Academy.
Why has Babar been under pressure in Tests?
Babar’s Test form has been a major talking point over the last few years. He has not scored a Test century since December 2022, when he made a brilliant 161 against New Zealand in Karachi.
His numbers since the beginning of 2023 have also dropped sharply. Babar averages 30.43 in Tests during this period, which is 12.55 runs below his career average in the format. That dip in form has led to questions about his place and his approach to Test cricket.
Can domestic cricket help Babar regain his form?
Babar has faced a lot of criticism in the past for not playing enough domestic red-ball cricket. His return could now allow him to spend more time in the longer format away from international pressure and work on his game.
Where does Pakistan stand in Test cricket?
Pakistan are currently ninth in the ICC Test rankings and sit at the bottom of the nine-team World Test Championship standings.
Their struggles have not been limited to Test cricket either. Pakistan have failed to make the knockout stage of the last four ICC tournaments.
Their campaign at the 2025 Champions Trophy was particularly disappointing. Playing at home, Pakistan were eliminated within five days after losing their first two group matches against New Zealand and India.