Babar Azam's return to first-class cricket did not go the way Pakistan fans had hoped. The Test captain scored just 12 runs in his first red-ball appearance in nearly seven years. He was playing for Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) against Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) in the President's Trophy Grade-I.
Fans waited two full days to see him bat. Babar finally walked out on the third day. His stay at the crease lasted only 20 deliveries.
Babar Azam's Red-Ball Comeback Ends in 20 Balls
The return was highly anticipated. Babar had not played first-class cricket for nearly seven years. Supporters packed the ground expecting a long innings. Instead, they saw a short stay that ended quickly.
Babar fell to a short ball. The dismissal ended a much-hyped comeback that had been building for days. His 12 runs off 20 balls gave little for fans to celebrate.
Why This Return Mattered So Much
Babar is Pakistan's Test captain. His form in red-ball cricket has been a talking point. A strong first-class showing would have sent a positive signal. A 12-run outing does the opposite.
The President's Trophy Grade-I is a domestic tournament. It gives national players a chance to find rhythm. For Babar, this was a rare opportunity to spend time at the crease in the longer format. He could not make it count.
- Babar batted on the third day after two days of waiting
- He faced only 20 deliveries
- He scored 12 runs
- He was dismissed by a short ball
- This was his first red-ball game in nearly seven years
Our Take: A Missed Chance, Not a Career Verdict
To put it plainly, one 12-run innings does not define a player of Babar Azam's quality. But it does raise questions. When a Test captain returns to domestic cricket after nearly seven years, people expect him to dominate. He did not.
In our view, the bigger issue is preparation. A player cannot shake off years of red-ball rust in 20 balls. If Babar wants to lead Pakistan's Test batting, he needs more innings like this — not fewer. The disappointment is real, but the sample size is tiny.
Fans should not panic. Babar should not either. What matters now is what he does in his next red-ball outing. One short stay at the crease is a setback, not a verdict.
