Babar Azam turns to domestic cricket after 7 years (ANI Image)
Babar was reappointed Pakistan’s Test captain in July and has since overseen a 1-1 series draw against the West Indies and a 0-3 defeat to England. The PCB’s decision to make seven changes to the squad and remove head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul after the second Test at Lord’s reportedly came without consulting or informing Babar.
Babar to represent Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) against Kingsmen Academy in the ongoing President’s Trophy Grade-I competition, starting September 18. His return comes after Pakistan suffered a 0-3 series whitewash in England and the PCB made sweeping changes to the touring squad and coaching staff. Pakistan captain Babar Azam is set to return to domestic first-class cricket for the first time in nearly seven years, with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) keen to see him back in action following Pakistan’s disappointing Test tour of England.
Babar has not played domestic first-class cricket since 2019, when he represented Central Punjab in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.
OGDCL sports head Farah Batool said the PCB had sent his name to the team for inclusion as a guest player. “Babar’s kit has been ordered and he will decide whether to play in the match from September 18 or from September 24 in the third-round game,” Batool said. “If I can be useful for Pakistan because of my pace, I would gladly play Test cricket,” he said.
Babar is not the only centrally contracted Pakistan player featuring in domestic red-ball cricket after the England tour. Fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf have also turned out for their respective teams in the President’s Trophy.