Babar Azam Scores 12 on Domestic Return as Arshad Iqbal Takes Five

Babar Azam scored 12 on his return to first-class cricket on Saturday as Khan Research Laboratories took control of their President’s Trophy Grade-I match against Oil and Gas Development Company Limited in Abbottabad. Playing the longer domestic format for the first time in nearly seven years, Babar faced 20 deliveries and hit two boundaries before pacer Arshad Iqbal dismissed him.

Arshad finished with five wickets for 55 runs from 16 overs, including four maidens. His spell helped KRL dismiss OGDCL for 217 in 63.1 overs after KRL had posted 398. It was Arshad’s third five-wicket haul in first-class cricket and brought his career tally to 97 wickets in 26 matches.

OGDCL’s innings included an unbeaten 56 from Mohammad Hammad Khan, 48 from captain Rohail Nazir and 40 from Danish Aziz. Ahmed Bashir and Iftikhar Ahmed took two wickets each for KRL. Earlier, KRL had resumed at 377 for eight and reached 398 in 117.3 overs, with Sarmad Bhatti finishing on 136. Mohammad Hasnain took three wickets for 96 runs.

The first-innings deficit forced OGDCL to follow on. Openers Waqar Ahmed and Ali Zaryab then survived the remaining 10 overs of the day, taking their side to 34 without loss. Waqar was unbeaten on 17 and Ali on 12 at stumps, leaving OGDCL 147 runs behind. Their opening partnership kept the match alive, although KRL retained a substantial advantage.

Other third-round President’s Trophy matches also produced major individual performances. At Islamabad’s National Ground, State Bank of Pakistan opener Abdullah Fazal made an unbeaten 309 from 339 balls, striking 29 fours and 11 sixes. He shared a 417-run opening stand with Hasan Raza, who scored 222. SBP declared at 638 for five, and Ghani Glass ended the day at 125 for two after conceding a 316-run first-innings lead.

In Peshawar, Markhor IT Solutions spinner Khalid Usman took six wickets for 64 runs as Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited were dismissed for 233 in response to 434. Markhor IT Solutions reached 33 for one in its second innings and led by 234 at stumps. At the Diamond Cricket Ground, Saud Shakeel scored 100 and Mohammad Huraira made 165 as Kingsmen Academy declared at 568 for eight against Pakistan Television. PTV closed on 62 for two, still 151 runs behind.