![Pakistan player switches to England team [Source: AFP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1777095676044_pakistanplayerjoinsengland(1).jpg?type=hq)
Pakistan player switches to England team [Source: AFP]
In an interesting development, one of Pakistan's Test players has shifted his base to England and aims to represent the Three Lions in international cricket. The English team has witnessed several marquee players from other countries- Jofra Archer, Boyd Rankin, and Eoin Morgan, to name a few.
It's worth mentioning that overseas players can play for England by fulfilling the eligibility criteria set by the ECB.
It normally requires British citizenship, or birth in England and Wales, or a qualifying residential period. Players generally need 3 to 7 years of residency, with a requirement of spending 210 days per year in England and Wales.
Meanwhile, as the Englishmen prepare for the 2026 home summer, Zafar Gohar, who has played Test cricket for Pakistan, aims to enter the England squad after fulfilling the ECB eligibility criteria.
He has also called out the Mohsin Naqvi-led PCB's selection committee for persistently ignoring him.
Zafar Gohar calls out PCB for injustice
Born in Lahore, Zafar Gohar is a spin-bowling all-rounder. He is a left-handed batter who bowls left-arm off-spin.
Gohar made his debut for Pakistan in an ODI against England in Sharjah back in 2015. He made his comeback in 2021 and played a Test against New Zealand before being sidelined from the national setup.
He has scored 86 runs and bagged two wickets across two international matches. However, he has an excellent First-Class record, having scalped 343 wickets and scored 3098 runs.
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Despite showcasing consistency in the domestic circuit, Gohar never got a long rope for Pakistan.
In a recent conversation with ESPNCricinfo, Zafar Gohar exposed the PCB selection committee for overlooking him when he was active in the Pakistani domestic circuit.
"I remember Misbah-ul-Haq coming to me before the Test match saying, we don't have enough seam allrounders, so you're going to bat at No. 8, and if we need it, you'll bowl a couple of overs. I remember playing that Test match, I got like 34 and 37 in each innings. And, yeah, never really had any communication after that,” Gohar was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.
"I didn't really get the chances I deserved in Pakistan. I took nearly 50 wickets for Gloucestershire [in 2022] and almost 500 runs with the bat as well, and when I went back to Pakistan, I got two more five-fers in three games," he added.
“But, after that, one of the selectors said: 'It doesn't matter what you do in county cricket. We don't really recognise those performances’. And that's when I realised there's no point. I decided to try something else where I could at least do everything I could to get my chance," the all-rounder concluded.
Zafar Gohar aims to play for England
After cutting ties with the Mohsin Naqvi-led PCB, Zafar Gohar eyes an international comeback in the England jersey.
The 31-year-old has been issued British citizenship after playing four seasons for Gloucestershire as an overseas player. He joined Middlesex as a locally qualified player for the 2025 season and remains an integral member of the team.
"If the chance comes anytime, I'll be ready," Zafar Gohar said on his ambitions to play for England.
He has showcased remarkable form in the ongoing County Championship, scoring 164 runs and bagging five wickets for Middlesex.
The 31-year-old was instrumental with bat and ball for the London-based team last year, scoring 396 runs and picking 38 wickets with his left-arm off-spin.
Which player can Zafar Gohar replace in England Test XI?
Talking about England, the Ben Stokes-led team currently has limited spin-bowling options, including Will Jacks, Shoaib Bashir and Rehan Ahmed. Bashir is a specialist off-spinner, while Rehan is an all-rounder who bowls right-arm leg spin.
Given that Jack Leach is no longer a part of the scheme of things, Zafar Gohar can definitely get a wildcard entry into the English Test XI as his successor.
As the European nation doesn't have the spin-bowling culture, Gohar might be preferred as Leach's long-term successor going forward.
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