Pakistan Test captain Babar Azam is preparing to return to domestic first-class cricket after almost seven years, following the Pakistan Cricket Board’s decision to have key national players regularly compete in red-ball cricket.
Babar is expected to feature for OGDCL in the President’s Trophy Grade-I, marking his return to the domestic first-class setup since December 2019, when he last played for Central Punjab.
The move is aimed at giving the Pakistan batter valuable red-ball match practice as he prepares for upcoming Test assignments. Regular participation in domestic cricket is also expected to help national players maintain their rhythm and adapt to longer-format conditions.
The PCB has been encouraging centrally contracted cricketers and members of the national team to participate in domestic first-class competitions whenever possible. The policy is intended to strengthen the connection between international and domestic cricket while improving the overall standard of red-ball competition.
Babar’s inclusion is expected to attract considerable attention to the President’s Trophy, while his experience could also benefit his domestic teammates.
Pakistan pace bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi and several other prominent national players are also featuring in the tournament as part of the PCB’s push for greater participation from established international cricketers.
Babar’s return could provide him with an important opportunity to spend more time at the crease in the longer format and prepare himself for the challenges of future Test cricket.
