Pakistan, Oct. 7 -- Babar Azam's return to Pakistan's first-class cricket after almost seven years was never going to be an ordinary domestic comeback. His presence alone was enough to turn a routine President's Trophy fixture into a major attraction, with sizeable crowds gathering simply for a glimpse of one of Pakistan's most celebrated cricketers.

The scenes surrounding Babar's return were a powerful reminder of his popularity. In Abbottabad, fans turned up in large numbers, while his appearance in Islamabad once again attracted considerable attention. For a domestic competition that often struggles to generate public interest, the Babar factor was impossible to miss.

But once the excitement, photographs and crowds are put aside, the...