Zafar Gohar Eyes England Call-Up After Becoming Eligible to Switch Allegiance

Former Pakistan spinner says county success and long-term commitment make England dream realistic

Pakistan-born left-arm spinner Zafar Gohar has declared his ambition to represent England after becoming eligible to play for his adopted country, offering a potential solution to England’s long-standing struggles in spin bowling.

Gohar, 30, played one Test for Pakistan against New Zealand in 2021 and made a solitary One-Day International appearance against England in Sharjah in 2015. However, six months after his Test debut, he signed a county contract with Gloucestershire, a move he says was carefully planned with his long-term career in mind.

Since relocating to the UK, Gohar has established himself as a consistent performer in county cricket and featured for Middlesex as a domestic player last summer. His time in England now satisfies the ICC’s eligibility criteria, which allow players to switch between full-member nations if they have not represented their previous side in the three years preceding selection.

“Moving to England a few years ago was a deliberate decision,” Gohar said. “It was always my target to come here and pursue my career. I’m happy that I now qualify as an English player. Playing for England would be a great achievement, and I’ve worked extremely hard over the last couple of years.”

Under ICC regulations, there is no stand-down period for players moving from an Associate nation to a Test-playing country, while players switching between two full members must observe a three-year gap, a condition Gohar has now fulfilled.

Highlighting his county record, Gohar stressed that his commitment to England is absolute. “I’ve had a pretty extraordinary run as a spinner in county cricket. To play as a local, you have to declare that England will be the only international team you represent. That’s how the system works, and I’ve fully committed to it.”

England’s interest in spin options has intensified in recent years. While off-spinner Shoaib Bashir emerged as a leading option in 2024, he was overlooked for the Ashes tour of Australia. Veteran left-armer Jack Leach, now 34, has not featured in a Test since England’s tour of Pakistan at the end of 2024, leaving the spin department thin ahead of future series.

Gohar will be 31 when England return to Test cricket against New Zealand in June, an age he believes still allows him to contribute at the highest level.

Reflecting on his time with Pakistan, Gohar admitted to mixed emotions. “It was a dream to play for Pakistan, and I’m grateful I achieved it. But I feel I could have done more. I performed well domestically, but opportunities were limited.”

“There’s no point in playing domestic cricket and giving up on your dreams,” he added. “That’s why I moved to England. Playing county cricket here was always my goal, and I was fortunate to get that chance with Gloucestershire.”

Gohar’s career has come full circle in an intriguing way. His only ODI for Pakistan came against England in 2015, the same opposition he tormented a year earlier in the Under-19 World Cup semi-final in Dubai, where he was named Player of the Match. That encounter was marked by heated exchanges, but Gohar remained composed to guide Pakistan to victory.

“I love challenges,” Gohar said. “When I signed for Gloucestershire, people said it doesn’t spin much at Bristol and questioned why they signed a spinner. I took that personally.”

He backed his words with performances, including a 10-wicket haul at Bristol, a rarity at the venue and has since become one of Gloucestershire’s most successful spinners in decades.

“If someone says I can’t do it, it motivates me even more,” Gohar concluded.

With England searching for reliable spin options and Gohar continuing to deliver in county cricket, his international ambitions may soon move from possibility to reality.