Babar Azam joins OGDCL for President's Trophy third round after seven-year first-class gap
The 31-year-old signed as a guest player for OGDCL ahead of their four-day match against KRL at Abbottabad, his first first-class appearance since December 2019.
Pakistan's premier batter Babar Azam has been included in the OGDCL squad as a guest player for the third round of the President's Trophy, ending an absence from first-class cricket that stretches back nearly seven years. The PCB confirmed the move on Wednesday, September 23 2026, ahead of OGDCL's four-day fixture against KRL at the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium, scheduled from September 24 to 27.
The 31-year-old's most recent first-class outing came in December 2019, a Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final in which he captained Central Punjab to the title with a victory over Northern by an innings and 16 runs. That gap of almost seven years makes this President's Trophy appearance a notable moment in his domestic career. His return follows Pakistan's 3-0 Test series defeat against England, which has prompted several senior players to seek competitive red-ball cricket through the domestic circuit.
Why did Babar Azam choose to play for OGDCL?
Babar's decision to sign for OGDCL stems from a desire to sharpen his first-class form and maintain rhythm in the longer format ahead of future international assignments. According to confirmed reports, he approached the PCB with a request to remain engaged with red-ball cricket, and the board facilitated his placement with OGDCL as a guest signing. The board approved his inclusion specifically for the Abbottabad fixture against KRL.
OGDCL have also strengthened their squad with two other additions for the third round. Razaullah, who made his Test debut against England in 2026, has been brought in alongside 18-year-old pacer Ali Raza. The combination of an established international batter and two emerging talents gives OGDCL a well-rounded look for the four-day contest.
Which other players have been added for the third round?
The third round of the President's Trophy has seen a significant influx of Pakistan internationals across several departments. KRL have reinforced their pace attack with Shaheen Shah Afridi and added mystery spinner Usman Tariq to their ranks. SNGPL have brought in Test batters Naseem Shah and Abdullah Shafique, along with Pakistan Under-19 players Hamza Zahoor, Abdul Subhan and Farhan Yousaf.
Other notable movements include Saud Shakeel joining Kingsmen Academy, Aamir Jamal being added to the MIT Solutions squad, Abdullah Fazal signing for State Bank of Pakistan, Ali Usman linking up with Pakistan Television and Hunain Shah joining Ghani Glass. Looking further ahead, Shadab Khan and Noman Ali are both expected to link up with their respective departments before the fourth round of the tournament begins.
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