Babar Azam, Naseem Shah struggle as Karachi Whites defeat Lahore Blues

Pakistan batter Babar Azam and leading pacer Naseem Shah had a tough return to domestic cricket in the National T20 Cup on Tuesday, failing to make an impact in their match for Lahore Blues against Karachi Whites at Gaddafi Stadium.

Both Babar and Naseem were among the senior players rested for Pakistan’s ongoing T20I series against New Zealand, following the team's disappointing performance in the recently concluded ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025. They returned to domestic cricket with hopes of regaining their form ahead of the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand.

However, the duo's performance fell short. Babar, who had scored 87 runs in two innings during the Champions Trophy, opened the batting for Lahore Blues in their second match of the T20 tournament. He managed to score just 22 runs off 17 balls, including three boundaries.

Naseem Shah, on the other hand, had a challenging day with the ball. He gave away 41 runs in his four overs and failed to take a wicket.

Lahore Blues were eventually bowled out for 134 runs in 18.5 overs while chasing a target of 172. This loss marked their first defeat in the ongoing National T20 Cup.

Batting first, Karachi Whites posted a total of 171/5 in their allotted 20 overs. Saud Shakeel played a key role in their innings, scoring a quick-fire 73 runs off 52 balls, which included eight fours and three sixes.