Former Pakistan International in Line for England Debut

Pakistan’s cricketing history is littered with promising players choosing to represent other nations after not getting opportunities in the national team, and that list could grow by one if Zafar Gohar achieves his dream of representing England in the future.

Once a promising young cricketer in Pakistan, Gohar’s international career never fully took off because of limited opportunities, but the 30-year-old left-arm spinner is now making waves in English county cricket in Division 2 and could be on his way to playing for England. Known for his bowling skills, Gohar is currently one of the top performers in the County Championship, playing for Middlesex, and has shown that his talent is very much alive.

During an interview with international media, he opened up about how close he came to achieving his dream of playing for Pakistan. In 2015, he was called up to the Pakistan Test squad as a replacement for the injured Yasir Shah, but an unfortunate incident led to him missing his flight to join the team. He had been waiting late into the night for travel instructions and ended up oversleeping, which led to him missing the flight. This mistake set him back, and despite his talent, Gohar struggled to break into the national team on a regular basis.

“I waited until late at night for travel details, then was told to rest. I could not wake up in time. The next morning, they blamed everything on me. I was devastated,” Gohar recalls about the incident.

Gohar did get a few chances to play for Pakistan, including an ODI in 2015 and a Test match in 2021, but he never managed to secure a permanent place in the team. Even though his performances in county cricket were impressive—he took 47 wickets and scored 500 runs for Gloucestershire in 2022—he wasn’t considered for the national side by the Pakistan Cricket Board.

After years of frustration, Zafar Gohar decided to make a bold move. With a British passport and no appearances for Pakistan in the last three years, he switched allegiances and became eligible to play for England. Now, playing for Middlesex, Gohar is proving his worth and has already taken 15 wickets in the 2025 County Championship season.

“I think I have just reached my prime, and I feel ready to take on this new challenge,” Gohar said. “I had heard England was the toughest place for spinners to get wickets, but I got wickets. That was the point I decided, right, I am going to take my chance. I know it is a big, big ask to get picked for England, but I love challenges.”

Handy with the bat as well, Zafar Gohar could become the latest player to represent England after making a debut for another international team. Eoin Morgan is perhaps the best example of this, while Ed Joyce and Garry Ballance did the opposite by going on to represent Ireland and Zimbabwe, respectively.

For Pakistan, Gohar’s inclusion in any future England sides will be another time of reflection. How many decent players can we afford to lose when our talent factories are already drying up?

Zafar Gohar’s next steps could lead him to play for England, but no matter where his career goes from here, his resilience and drive are what truly make his story one to remember.