Pakistan Test captain Babar Azam is set to return to domestic first-class cricket after joining Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) as a guest player for the ongoing President’s Trophy Grade-I tournament.
According to reports, OGDCL has signed Babar for the current edition of the competition, allowing the Pakistan batter to gain valuable red-ball practice ahead of future Test assignments.
Babar had reportedly requested the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to include him in a domestic squad so he could remain connected with the longer format and continue preparing for Test cricket.
Following the request, the PCB arranged for Babar to represent OGDCL as a guest player in the tournament.
The PCB has confirmed the schedule and squads for the President’s Trophy Grade-I, which features eight participating teams. The competition is the first red-ball tournament of Pakistan’s 2026-27 domestic cricket season.
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The tournament began on September 12 and is scheduled to conclude with the five-day final on October 28.
Babar’s return to domestic cricket is expected to provide him with an opportunity to sharpen his technique and maintain match fitness in the longer format while competing alongside some of Pakistan’s leading domestic players.
