Babar Azam to represent Lahore Whites in QeA Trophy ahead of South Africa Test series

Pakistan’s star batter and former captain Babar Azam is set to return to domestic red-ball action, representing Lahore Whites in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy ahead of the upcoming two-match Test series against South Africa.

This marks Babar’s first appearance in the country’s premier first-class tournament since the 2019 final, where he captained Central Punjab.

His return is seen as a strategic move to gain valuable match practice and fine-tune his form before leading Pakistan’s batting charge in the home Test series.

The decision to include Babar in Lahore Whites’ lineup comes as Pakistan intensifies its preparations for the Test series against South Africa, which is scheduled to begin on October 12 at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.

His participation in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy is expected to boost the morale of the domestic circuit, while also giving local players a chance to share the field with one of the world’s top batters. 

Notably, Wicket-keeper Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Hasan Ali, and Sajid Khan are also set to represent their respective regions in the tournament on the directives of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi.

Mohammad Rizwan and Sajid Khan will represent Peshawar Region in the 10-team tournament, while Salman Ali Agha and Hasan Ali will play for Sialkot and Lahore Whites, respectively.

The opening round of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy ends on October 9, two days before the Test series begins at the Gaddafi Stadium.

The 10-team tournament will be played across four cities: Abbottabad, Islamabad, Peshawar, and Rawalpindi.