Babar Azam to return to domestic cricket with OGDCL

Pakistan Test captain Babar Azam is set to return to domestic first-class cricket for the first time in seven years. Following a request to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to facilitate his participation in the longer format, the PCB has arranged for Azam to join the Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) as a guest player.

Azam will compete in the ongoing President’s Trophy Grade 1 tournament. His last appearance in a domestic first-class competition was in 2019. The move follows a prolonged period of difficulty in Test cricket, where he has not recorded a century since December 2022. Since the start of 2023, his Test batting average has been approximately 30.43, which is more than 12 runs below his career average.