Babar Azam dismissed for 21 in President's Trophy as domestic struggles continue

Babar Azam was dismissed for 21 off 39 deliveries in a President's Trophy Grade-I fixture at Diamond Cricket Ground, Islamabad, on Wednesday, September 30, 2026. Afaq Afridi took the wicket via an LBW decision, ending Babar's innings on the opening day of the match between OGDCL and State Bank of Pakistan.

OGDCL had elected to bat first and were positioned at 113-4 at the moment of Babar's departure, leaving the side in a difficult position. The dismissal attracted considerable attention from spectators at the venue, with fans rushing onto the ground to take photographs with the 31-year-old after he walked off. Ground staff were required to step in and restore order before play could continue.

The outing marked Babar's second domestic appearance in seven years, a gap that reflects how infrequently he has featured in Pakistan's first-class circuit throughout his international career.

How has Babar Azam fared across his domestic comeback innings so far?

Babar's return to domestic cricket began with a President's Trophy match against Khan Research Laboratories in Abbottabad, played from September 24 to 27, 2026. He contributed 12 runs from 20 balls in the first innings of that fixture and managed only 4 runs in the second, for a combined return of 16 runs across both innings.

The September 30 knock of 21 represents his highest individual score across the three innings he has completed since resuming domestic cricket. Across those three innings, Babar has scored 12, 4 and 21 runs in that order, and none of the three knocks has indicated that he has settled into a consistent rhythm at the first-class level.

His previous first-class appearance before this comeback came in December 2019, when he captained Central Punjab to the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy title. The gap of nearly seven years between that outing and his current run of matches provides important context for the modest returns he has produced in Abbottabad and Islamabad.

What is next for Babar Azam after his Islamabad dismissal?

Babar features among the leading international names entered for a franchise T20 league player auction scheduled for Thursday, October 1, 2026, in Dubai. Phil Salt, Faf du Plessis and Liam Livingstone are among the other prominent players expected to go under the hammer at the same event, which is the Season 5 edition of the DP World ILT20 auction.

The auction is set to take place the day after his Islamabad dismissal, meaning his franchise T20 future for the upcoming season will be decided almost immediately following his latest domestic outing. The proximity of the two events ensures that Babar's form and availability will be closely scrutinised by franchise representatives gathering in Dubai.