Babar Azam dismissed cheaply on first-class return after seven years

Babar Azam‘s return to first-class cricket after seven years ended in a brief and disappointing outing on Day 3 of the ongoing clash between Oil and Gas Development Company Limited and Khan Research Laboratories on Saturday, September 26. The 31-year-old was dismissed for just 12 runs while representing his side in the third round of the President’s Trophy Grade-I at Abbottabad Cricket Stadium.

Babar faced 20 deliveries, struck two boundaries and scored at a strike rate of 60.00 before being caught by Abdul Faseeh off a bouncer from Arshad Iqbal. His dismissal left OGDCL in serious trouble at 46-4 in their first innings, chasing KRL’s total of 398.

Babar had not featured in domestic first-class cricket since December 2019, making this one of the most closely watched fixtures of the President’s Trophy Grade-I season. He came to the crease on the third day of the contest, having had no opportunity to bat on either of the opening two days.

How was Babar Azam dismissed on his return?

Babar’s innings ended when he attempted to play a short-pitched delivery from Arshad Iqbal and was caught by Abdul Faseeh in the field. The bouncer accounted for a batter who had been away from the domestic first-class circuit for the better part of seven years.

Arshad Iqbal was the most dangerous bowler for KRL during OGDCL’s first innings, claiming three of the four wickets to fall by the time the score reached 46. His spell put KRL firmly in command of the match, with OGDCL facing a steep task to avoid the follow-on against a side that had posted 398 in their first innings.

What was the atmosphere like at Abbottabad Cricket Stadium?

Babar’s presence at the ground generated considerable public interest throughout the match. Fans stormed onto the field during play to meet him, a scene that illustrated the scale of attention his domestic return attracted across Pakistan.

His previous first-class appearance for a domestic side had come in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final in December 2019. The seven-year absence from that format made this President’s Trophy fixture stand out well beyond a routine third-round contest. Despite the brevity of his innings and the difficult position it left OGDCL in, the occasion carried clear significance given how long Babar had been absent from Pakistan’s domestic first-class stage.