Babar Azam reacted angrily to a pitch invasion during the President’s Trophy Grade-I match between OGDCL and State Bank of Pakistan at the Diamond Cricket Ground in Islamabad on Wednesday, throwing away a fan’s mobile phone as supporters swarmed the field.
Two fans storm the field
The incident took place on the opening day of OGDCL’s fourth-round fixture against SBP. Two fans ran onto the field hoping to take a selfie with the Pakistan Test captain.
In footage circulating on social media, one fan approached Babar with a phone in hand. Babar pushed him away before turning to the second fan, throwing his phone aside and gesturing for the invaders to leave the field.
Babar is representing OGDCL in the eight-team tournament, marking his return to domestic cricket after a gap of seven years. His presence has drawn large crowds at matches.
A quiet return with the bat
The outburst came hours after another lean outing with the bat. Babar was dismissed for 21 from 39 balls in OGDCL’s first innings, with the department bowled out for 196 in 50 overs.
It continued a modest run since his domestic comeback. In his previous appearance, his first in the domestic circuit since the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final in December 2019, he scored 12 and four in the two innings. In that match he was dismissed top-edging a pull off Arshad Iqbal to mid-wicket in the first innings and trapped lbw by Faheem Ashraf in the second.
A recurring security headache
This was not the first pitch invasion Babar has faced since returning to domestic cricket. His presence at President’s Trophy matches has drawn unusually large crowds, and supporters have repeatedly breached security to reach him. The latest incident at the Diamond Cricket Ground will raise fresh questions about crowd control at domestic fixtures featuring high-profile players.
Why did Babar Azam throw a fan’s phone?
Two fans invaded the pitch during OGDCL’s President’s Trophy match against SBP at the Diamond Cricket Ground in Islamabad on September 30, 2026, trying to take selfies. Babar pushed one away and threw the other’s phone aside before gesturing them off the field.
How many runs did Babar Azam score in the match?
He made 21 from 39 balls in OGDCL’s first innings before being dismissed.
When did Babar Azam last play domestic cricket before this season?
His previous domestic appearance was the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final in December 2019, a gap of nearly seven years.
