Babar Azam Dismissed for 12 on First-Class Return After Seven Years

Pakistan Test captain Babar Azam was dismissed for 12 on his long-awaited return to first-class cricket, as Khan Research Laboratories pacer Arshad Iqbal claimed a fiery five-wicket haul, forcing Oil and Gas Development Company Limited to follow on in the third round of the President's Trophy Grade-I at Abbottabad Cricket Stadium.

Babar's Innings

Playing the longer format for the first time in nearly seven years, Babar faced 20 balls and struck two boundaries before Arshad ended his promising start. Arshad returned figures of 16-4-55-5 — his third first-class five-for, taking his career tally to 97 wickets in 26 matches.

Match Summary

OGDCL were bundled out for 217 in reply to KRL's 398, with Mohammad Hammad Khan unbeaten on 56 and skipper Rohail Nazir contributing 48. Following on, OGDCL openers Waqar Ahmed and Ali Zaryab reached 34 without loss by stumps, trailing by 147 runs.

Elsewhere in the Round

At the National Ground in Islamabad, Abdullah Fazal smashed an unbeaten 309 off 339 balls — the second-fastest triple century in Pakistan domestic cricket history — sharing a 417-run opening stand with Hasan Raza (222), the third-highest in the country's first-class history, as State Bank of Pakistan declared at 638/5 against Ghani Glass.

At Imran Khan Stadium Peshawar, Khalid Usman picked up his 19th first-class five-for as Markhor IT Solutions dismissed SNGPL for 233. At the Diamond Cricket Ground, Test batter Saud Shakeel struck his 24th first-class century as Kingsmen Academy declared on 568/8 against Pakistan Television.