Overview
- Babar Azam returned to domestic first-class cricket and was dismissed for 12 off 20 balls on Saturday when he was caught by Abdul Faseeh from a short-pitched delivery by Arshad Iqbal.
- Khan Research Laboratories seamer Arshad Iqbal took three of the first four OGDCL wickets and was later reported to finish with five for 55, a spell that swung the match decisively toward KRL.
- KRL posted 398 in their first innings and OGDCL were forced to follow on after falling 181 runs short, leaving them still behind at the close of play in the second innings.
- The match drew intense local interest with large crowds at Abbottabad Cricket Stadium and widespread social-media reaction to Babar’s outing and the bowling display.
- Selectors and fans are likely to treat this performance as a test of Babar’s red-ball form and match fitness, with implications for his role in upcoming Test selections and Pakistan’s longer-format rebuilding.