Islamabad, May 5, 2025: Zafar Gohar is now a strong contender for an England cricket career after a remarkable career turnaround.
At 30, Gohar is currently the leading spinner in the ongoing County Championship, playing for Middlesex as a local player after acquiring British citizenship.
His journey, which once held great promise, was derailed by unfortunate events and a lack of opportunities with the Pakistan national team.
In 2015, experienced spinner received a shock call-up to the Pakistan Test squad, replacing an injured Yasir Shah.
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While playing a domestic match in Faisalabad, he was informed of the last-minute travel plans, including a 3 AM flight to the UAE to join the team for their series against England.
However, overwhelmed by exhaustion, he missed the flight, a mistake that would haunt him for years.
Gohar reflected that while being called up was a dream come true, exhaustion caused him to miss the flight, resulting in blame and devastation.
Despite making two more appearances for Pakistan—one in an ODI in 2015 and another in a Test match in 2021—consistent opportunities remained scarce.
Additionally, Gohar’s county achievements, including 47 wickets and over 500 runs for Gloucestershire in 2022, were dismissed by Pakistan’s selectors.
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Frustrated, Gohar made the decision to switch allegiance to England. With no appearances for Pakistan in the last three years, he became eligible to play for England after securing a British passport.
Now, Gohar is proving his worth in county cricket with impressive performances, including 15 wickets in the first four rounds of the 2025 County Championship.
Reflecting on his revival, he said, “I feel like I’ve just reached my prime, and I’m ready for this new challenge.”
He acknowledged the difficulty of getting selected for England, but added, “I love challenges and I’m willing to take my shot.”
