KARACHI: Pakistan Test captain Babar Azam was dismissed cheaply 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 the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

Babar, appearing in the longer format for the first time in nearly seven years, faced 20 balls and struck two boundaries before Arshad curtailed his promising start with a delivery that sent him packing.

The right-armer returned figures of 16-4-55-5 — his third first-class five-for — taking his tally to 97 wickets in 26 matches.

OGDCL were bundled out for 217 in 63.1 overs in reply to KRL’s 398, with Mohammad Hammad Khan unbeaten on 56, skipper Rohail Nazir contributing 48 and Danish Aziz making 40. Ahmed Bashir and Iftikhar Ahmed supported Arshad with two wickets each.

Earlier, KRL resumed on 377 for eight and were dismissed for 398 in 117.3 overs, Sarmad Bhatti finishing on 136.

Mohammad Hasnain took three for 96. Following on, OGDCL openers Waqar Ahmed (17 not out) and Ali Zaryab (12 not out) negotiated the remaining 10 overs to reach 34 without loss, trailing by 147 runs overall.

Elsewhere, left-handed opener Abdullah Fazal shone brightly with an unbeaten triple century as State Bank of Pakistan dominated Ghani Glass at the National Ground in Islamabad.

Abdullah slammed 309 not out off 339 balls (29 fours, 11 sixes) — the second-fastest triple century in Pakistan domestic cricket — sharing a 417-run opening stand with Hasan Raza (222), the third-highest in the country’s first-class history.

SBP declared at 638 for five, securing a 316-run lead. Ghani closed on 125 for two, with skipper Mohsin Riaz unbeaten on 69.

At Imran Khan Stadium in Peshawar, Markhor IT Solutions’ left-arm spinner Khalid Usman picked up his 19th first-class five-for (6-64) as SNGPL were dismissed for 233 in reply to MIT’s 434.

MIT led by 234 runs at stumps after reaching 33 for one in their second innings. Omair Bin Yousuf top-scored for SNGPL with 61.

Test batter Saud Shakeel stamped his authority with his 24th first-class century (100 off 147 balls) as Kingsmen Academy declared on 568 for eight against Pakistan Television at the Diamond Cricket Ground, gaining a 213-run first-innings lead.

Mohammad Huraira made 165, while PTV closed on 62 for two, still 151 runs in arrears.

Published in Dawn, September 27th, 2026