Photo via Wisden

58 runs in four innings: Pakistan captain struggles on domestic return after seven years

Pakistan national team leader Babar Azam has endured a difficult return to domestic four-day cricket while representing the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited, accumulating merely fifty-eight runs across four turns at the crease for an average of fourteen point five zero. Having last appeared in a domestic red-ball fixture within the country during the twenty nineteen Quaid-e-Azam Trophy decider for Central Punjab, the skipper rejoined his domestic side for the third fixture against Khan Research Laboratories, recording scores of twelve and four after missing the opening two rounds due to international duties.

During the subsequent contest versus the State Bank of Pakistan, Afaq Afridi dismissed the batsman leg-before-wicket for twenty-one runs in the opening innings before the right-hander contributed another twenty-one runs at a strike-rate of one hundred and fifty during the second effort. This run of form compounds a challenging period that includes a Test average drop to thirty point four three since the beginning of twenty twenty-three, following a series against England where he produced ninety-seven runs across four turns after recovering from a thumb issue.

With Pakistan sitting at the foot of the World Test Championship standings ahead of a two-match home series against Sri Lanka in November, the batter has three upcoming red-ball matches with OGDCL to regain momentum.

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