The curious case of Zafar Gohar...

[Titan24]

Touted as the next big thing during his U 19 days and why not after he took the Pakistan U-19 team to the final of 2014 U-19 WC along with Amad Butt with.

Just a year and a half later after performing well in domestic cricket he got a call upto the Pakistan national squad and debuted in November 2015 against England. In that match he looked like the only bowler producing something and took 2 wickets (Hales and Root) out of 4 wickets in the losing cause.

The next eventual step was obviously test cricket and at the pace he was going he got the test call up during the same series against Eng and in a spinners paradise like UAE. Everything was looking like a dream a young guy performing at every level and reached the Pakistan cricket team's dressing room at 20 years of age.

However, the real life dream had a sudden end when Zafar's night time dreams made him oversleep and he missed his flight to UAE to join the team for test series. An event pretty much unheard of in cricket and an anomaly probably even in the sporting world as well.

That one goodnight's sleep took him and his career into a deep abyss. Like many he was forgotten and his left shoulder's injury in 2017 didnt help his cause either. He got a surgery from UK and started playing cricket again and did decently without exactly setting the world on fire. However the momentum he formed in 2014 when he kept on going from strength to strength and Pakistan team was already ready with open arms to welcome him was not there anymore.

When you are young and you keep on showing improvement and keep on performing sometimes that momentum can take you to the national side as we have seen with some of the recent youngsters like Shaheen Shah, Naseem Shah and Haider Ali to name a few. However, if you miss that initial train then the road to Pakistan team's dressing room isnt very easy as you have to toil hard and have to compete with everyone in the domestic circuit to have better stats and performances at the end of each season.

Zafar is now in that tougher journey where one does see a mirage of getting in Pakistan team but most of the times its not there. He has recently got the man of the tournament in QAE 2019 where he converted his batting skills to runs as well along with getting wickets and he can only hope that he gets another shot at an international career.

 

[Shoaibbtt]

Touted as the next big thing during his U 19 days and why not after he took the Pakistan U-19 team to the final of 2014 U-19 WC along with Amad Butt with.

Just a year and a half later after performing well in domestic cricket he got a call upto the Pakistan national squad and debuted in November 2015 against England. In that match he looked like the only bowler producing something and took 2 wickets (Hales and Root) out of 4 wickets in the losing cause.

The next eventual step was obviously test cricket and at the pace he was going he got the test call up during the same series against Eng and in a spinners paradise like UAE. Everything was looking like a dream a young guy performing at every level and reached the Pakistan cricket team's dressing room at 20 years of age.

However, the real life dream had a sudden end when Zafar's night time dreams made him oversleep and he missed his flight to UAE to join the team for test series. An event pretty much unheard of in cricket and an anomaly probably even in the sporting world as well.

That one goodnight's sleep took him and his career into a deep abyss. Like many he was forgotten and his left shoulder's injury in 2017 didnt help his cause either. He got a surgery from UK and started playing cricket again and did decently without exactly setting the world on fire. However the momentum he formed in 2014 when he kept on going from strength to strength and Pakistan team was already ready with open arms to welcome him was not there anymore.

When you are young and you keep on showing improvement and keep on performing sometimes that momentum can take you to the national side as we have seen with some of the recent youngsters like Shaheen Shah, Naseem Shah and Haider Ali to name a few. However, if you miss that initial train then the road to Pakistan team's dressing room isnt very easy as you have to toil hard and have to compete with everyone in the domestic circuit to have better stats and performances at the end of each season.

Zafar is now in that tougher journey where one does see a mirage of getting in Pakistan team but most of the times its not there. He has recently got the man of the tournament in QAE 2019 where he converted his batting skills to runs as well along with getting wickets and he can only hope that he gets another shot at an international career.

Please tell me the oversleeping story is not true, if that is the case then PCB has a right to be a little angry with him. I mean gosh that is unprofessional and like you said unheard of.

I truly wish Zafar Gohar the best and in my eyes he does have a future in test cricket but i am afraid that like Fawad, Tabish Khan, Saad Ali, Usman Salhuddin and others that he will become a distant memory and just a mere whisper in these Pakpassion forums.

 

[Markhor]

It's baffling why Zafar has been repeatedly overlooked. Not only has he performed in FC cricket, he produces lower runs and offers a long-term option being 25.

After that ODI performance vs England the OP mentions, he completely disappeared. The team management then in 15/16 were utterly clueless (Azhar/Afridi/Waqar) as they are now (Azhar/Misbah/Waqar). To be fair, even Mickey ignored Zafar and chose inferior spinners like Imad Wasim and Shadab Khan ahead of him.

I also believe Tauseef Ahmed, the spin guru on the former selection panel, didn't rate him.

However where I will criticise Zafar is that he wasted two pivotal opportunities in his career. I wouldn't be able to sleep if I was told I was to play for Pakistan, but Zafar missed his flight to UAE for a Test in 2015 vs England by oversleeping. Any manager will not take kindly to that lack of professionalism.

Secondly, in the televised 19/20 QEA Trophy Final, having done so well in the tournament, he produced bowling figures of 0-194. Even mediocre Bilal Asif outperformed him. If Zafar performed on that big stage, he would've had a great chance of being selected for the Bangladesh home series.

 

[Abdullah719]

Please tell me the oversleeping story is not true, if that is the case then PCB has a right to be a little angry with him. I mean gosh that is unprofessional and like you said unheard of.

I truly wish Zafar Gohar the best and in my eyes he does have a future in test cricket but i am afraid that like Fawad, Tabish Khan, Saad Ali, Usman Salhuddin and others that he will become a distant memory and just a mere whisper in these Pakpassion forums.

http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/s...a-place-in-the-national-team-quot-Zafar-Gohar

“I was at fault at that time as I overslept and missed the flight to the UAE. I was under the impression that I could take the next flight in the morning but this turned out to be an incorrect assumption. The whole embarrassing issue was really my fault for which I have apologised already.”

 

[TeymurBlake]

Despite missing the flight, he should have been a part of the Pakistan team already.

What kind of message are we sending out, no matter how hard you work. no matter how many runs, wickets, catches or fitness you have gotten or is, you won't make it into the team. You either need to be liked or have strong relations in the PCB.

 

[Shoaibbtt]

http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/s...a-place-in-the-national-team-quot-Zafar-Gohar

“I was at fault at that time as I overslept and missed the flight to the UAE. I was under the impression that I could take the next flight in the morning but this turned out to be an incorrect assumption. The whole embarrassing issue was really my fault for which I have apologised already.”

If there ever was a "shaking my head" moment in history then this would be it lol. Can't say we've not all made this type of mistake in our lives before, my mum didn't check her passport before flying and realised at check-in that it was expired. Still regardless of this situation he deserves a comeback and has been quite good in the recent QeA trophy.

 

[Shoaibbtt]

Despite missing the flight, he should have been a part of the Pakistan team already.

What kind of message are we sending out, no matter how hard you work. no matter how many runs, wickets, catches or fitness you have gotten or is, you won't make it into the team. You either need to be liked or have strong relations in the PCB.

My sentiment exactly. This is why i am giving Fawad Alam a backing, despite what people think of him. We must support our domestic players, acknowledge and reward their efforts. The very unfortunate Tabish Khan is no longer going to be selected due to now being 35 years old. PCB need to start adopting a development strategy for players otherwise what's the point?

 

[TeymurBlake]

My sentiment exactly. This is why i am giving Fawad Alam a backing, despite what people think of him. We must support our domestic players, acknowledge and reward their efforts. The very unfortunate Tabish Khan is no longer going to be selected due to now being 35 years old. PCB need to start adopting a development strategy for players otherwise what's the point?

Its more irritating when this happens specially nowadays in today's current times. Just look at our opposition England, look at the young players they have brought in with a solid but small mix of experience players and West Indies who seem to continuously bring in new young players.

And then there's us who can't seem to get past 30 something yr old's, who are no longer able nor proven to be reliable as performers. Azhar, Asad, Sohail and Yasir as players have packed it in and yet are still going and don't get me started on Kashif Bhatti.

 

[Shoaibbtt]

Its more irritating when this happens specially nowadays in today's current times. Just look at our opposition England, look at the young players they have brought in with a solid but small mix of experience players and West Indies who seem to continuously bring in new young players.

And then there's us who can't seem to get past 30 something yr old's, who are no longer able nor proven to be reliable as performers. Azhar, Asad, Sohail and Yasir as players have packed it in and yet are still going and don't get me started on Kashif Bhatti.

Bhatti was doing well in the tour game in Australia. I can agree with the issue you've brought up to an extent, i think the thing i'm sick of is constantly going with the same boring XI and never mixing it up. Not pushing those boundaries to try someone new despite if they are in their 30s, fitness and form matters not age in my eyes. Just as Younis Khan mentioned that Misbah in his later years matured like a fine wine so don't pay attention too much to age.

I reckon there must a mix of some top domestic performers along with young guys from U19 specifically R Nazir, Hurraira and H Ali. Variety is the spice of life and that's what Pakistan lacks and has always lacked, don't worry about results just focus on giving people chances and results will improve.

Don't listen to the "chachas" that say give him a chance or him a chance, go by merit and that's it.

 

[Saj]

http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/s...a-place-in-the-national-team-quot-Zafar-Gohar

“I was at fault at that time as I overslept and missed the flight to the UAE. I was under the impression that I could take the next flight in the morning but this turned out to be an incorrect assumption. The whole embarrassing issue was really my fault for which I have apologised already.”

It turned out to be a very costly oversleep for Zafar.

He should have had more chances, but it seems the selectors are keen to stick with tried and tested players.

 

[TeymurBlake]

Bhatti was doing well in the tour game in Australia. I can agree with the issue you've brought up to an extent, i think the thing i'm sick of is constantly going with the same boring XI and never mixing it up. Not pushing those boundaries to try someone new despite if they are in their 30s, fitness and form matters not age in my eyes. Just as Younis Khan mentioned that Misbah in his later years matured like a fine wine so don't pay attention too much to age.

I reckon there must a mix of some top domestic performers along with young guys from U19 specifically R Nazir, Hurraira and H Ali. Variety is the spice of life and that's what Pakistan lacks and has always lacked, don't worry about results just focus on giving people chances and results will improve.

Don't listen to the "chachas" that say give him a chance or him a chance, go by merit and that's it.

Basically what your saying. There is always a lack of youngster brought forward especially in the batting department in our team. Playing certain players out of position (e.g. Fakhar Zaman No.6 vs WI 2017, Umar Akmal as a WK batsman at No.6), preferring out of there depth players we don't have a proper grooming or blooding system. We basically chuck them in the deep water and see if they float. Once they have failed, we seem to chuck them aside.

I agree form and fitness matters, regardless age but if the if that is visibly not there anymore (Sohail Khan) we still seem to carry them around due to experience (Hafeez).

Its always wise to have a blend of young players who are new apprentices in the Intl. fold and balance with reliable players who are performing for the team day in day out. But these kind of planning doesn't happen with our team.

 

[Shoaibbtt]

Basically what your saying. There is always a lack of youngster brought forward especially in the batting department in our team. Playing certain players out of position (e.g. Fakhar Zaman No.6 vs WI 2017, Umar Akmal as a WK batsman at No.6), preferring out of there depth players we don't have a proper grooming or blooding system. We basically chuck them in the deep water and see if they float. Once they have failed, we seem to chuck them aside.

I agree form and fitness matters, regardless age but if the if that is visibly not there anymore (Sohail Khan) we still seem to carry them around due to experience (Hafeez).

Its always wise to have a blend of young players who are new apprentices in the Intl. fold and balance with reliable players who are performing for the team day in day out. But these kind of planning doesn't happen with our team.

I think you know as well as i that no other players from other boards suffers from the problems of nepotism and favoritism like in Pakistan cricket. I mean i can't believe we had Azam Khan (Moin Khan's son) shoved down our throats as an aggressive batsman and he really turned out sub par. In my eyes give Rohail Nazir, Hurraira and Haider Ali a chance but start off small with t20s, and it's high time we get rid of Malik and Hafeez as they aren't needed. I could make an XI without those 2 has beens occupying the team.

 

[Forum363]

http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/s...a-place-in-the-national-team-quot-Zafar-Gohar

“I was at fault at that time as I overslept and missed the flight to the UAE. I was under the impression that I could take the next flight in the morning but this turned out to be an incorrect assumption. The whole embarrassing issue was really my fault for which I have apologised already.”

Thank you, have heard this a few times so it’s good to see confirmation.

Regardless of this, he’s put his hands up, accepted his mistake and apologised. No one will have suffered for this mistake as much as him. He was a young guy who made one mistake - it happens. Who knows the circumstances were, he might have been unable to sleep the whole night due to nerves and finally fell asleep late. Anyway it’s irrelevant.

People make mistakes. Move on and judge him on his talent /performance.

 

[Corridor of Uncertainty]

How can one be allowed to come back into Pakistani team after oversleeping and missing a flight?

The standards are high.

You must have fixed matches, bitten balls, smoked weed on beaches, pirouetted on pitch, hit your coach, taken team oaths against your captain, done your own medical tests and some such exemplary stuff to have any chance of making a comeback.

 

[Bigboii]

How can one be allowed to come back into Pakistani team after oversleeping and missing a flight?

The standards are high.

You must have fixed matches, bitten balls, smoked weed on beaches, pirouetted on pitch, hit your coach, taken team oaths against your captain, done your own medical tests and some such exemplary stuff to have any chance of making a comeback.

But but but they are all legends and some are blessed in all facets of the game

 

[Shaka81]

It's baffling why Zafar has been repeatedly overlooked. Not only has he performed in FC cricket, he produces lower runs and offers a long-term option being 25.

After that ODI performance vs England the OP mentions, he completely disappeared. The team management then in 15/16 were utterly clueless (Azhar/Afridi/Waqar) as they are now (Azhar/Misbah/Waqar). To be fair, even Mickey ignored Zafar and chose inferior spinners like Imad Wasim and Shadab Khan ahead of him.

I also believe Tauseef Ahmed, the spin guru on the former selection panel, didn't rate him.

However where I will criticise Zafar is that he wasted two pivotal opportunities in his career. I wouldn't be able to sleep if I was told I was to play for Pakistan, but Zafar missed his flight to UAE for a Test in 2015 vs England by oversleeping. Any manager will not take kindly to that lack of professionalism.

Secondly, in the televised 19/20 QEA Trophy Final, having done so well in the tournament, he produced bowling figures of 0-194. Even mediocre Bilal Asif outperformed him. If Zafar performed on that big stage, he would've had a great chance of being selected for the Bangladesh home series.

Just to play devil's advocate... maybe the coaches have seen that poor performance and weren't sure he was ready for pressure games. They've given him a chance regardless to join the group training in England and again maybe he has failed to impress. It could be why they released him and not even kept him on as a net bowler.

 

[Bullet Drive]

Misbah ruined his career.

One month before the 2015 World Cup, he took many many wickets in a domestic 50 over list-a tournament at an amazing average.

Instead, Misbah went on to pick Yasir Shah in the World Cup squad, despite us already having a leg-spinner in the squad(Afridi) and prior to this, Yasir hadn't played an ODI for 4 entire years.

Yasir played the first game against India. Dropped a catch off Virat Kohli, missed a run out(think it was him) and went for about 80 runs off his 8 overs.

Zafar Gohar was wasted by Misbah back then, and he continues to be wasted by Misbah now who is ruining his career in the PSL by hardly playing him, despite Zafar looking better than Shadab.
[MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] [MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION]

 

[MMHS]

Misbah ruined his career.

One month before the 2015 World Cup, he took many many wickets in a domestic 50 over list-a tournament at an amazing average.

Instead, Misbah went on to pick Yasir Shah in the World Cup squad, despite us already having a leg-spinner in the squad(Afridi) and prior to this, Yasir hadn't played an ODI for 4 entire years.

Yasir played the first game against India. Dropped a catch off Virat Kohli, missed a run out(think it was him) and went for about 80 runs off his 8 overs.

Zafar Gohar was wasted by Misbah back then, and he continues to be wasted by Misbah now who is ruining his career in the PSL by hardly playing him, despite Zafar looking better than Shadab.
[MENTION=79064]MMHS[/MENTION] [MENTION=132916]Junaids[/MENTION]

Zafar probably is better batsman than Shadab for the longer game!!!! There must be something wrong with the guy - it's not only Misbah, previous selection panel also ignored him.

 

[Officer Barbrady]

Looked very promising in the PSL and based on his record seems like a sensible pick for test cricket. Can’t figure out why we are so reluctant to try anyone but Yasir

 

[ahmadharis1]

Has he threatened a coach with a knife yet? If not, he still has ways to go

 

[ask_analyse_act]

Looked very promising in the PSL and based on his record seems like a sensible pick for test cricket. Can’t figure out why we are so reluctant to try anyone but Yasir

Pak is the only team now that have players who had debuted before 2000 and early 2000s In all these 2 decades of time cant they find a guy as a replacement. that is how the team is. See for example younis, malik, hafeez debuted long before in the early 2000s and malik even at 1999 and played 20 odd years. Every player in pakistan if played for 10 years then they are entitled to play until they wish to retire.

 

[ask_analyse_act]

It's baffling why Zafar has been repeatedly overlooked. Not only has he performed in FC cricket, he produces lower runs and offers a long-term option being 25.

After that ODI performance vs England the OP mentions, he completely disappeared. The team management then in 15/16 were utterly clueless (Azhar/Afridi/Waqar) as they are now (Azhar/Misbah/Waqar). To be fair, even Mickey ignored Zafar and chose inferior spinners like Imad Wasim and Shadab Khan ahead of him.

I also believe Tauseef Ahmed, the spin guru on the former selection panel, didn't rate him.

However where I will criticise Zafar is that he wasted two pivotal opportunities in his career. I wouldn't be able to sleep if I was told I was to play for Pakistan, but Zafar missed his flight to UAE for a Test in 2015 vs England by oversleeping. Any manager will not take kindly to that lack of professionalism.

Secondly, in the televised 19/20 QEA Trophy Final, having done so well in the tournament, he produced bowling figures of 0-194. Even mediocre Bilal Asif outperformed him. If Zafar performed on that big stage, he would've had a great chance of being selected for the Bangladesh home series.

Mickey had a liking for bits and pieces that is why and how he picked imad wasim all the time. He had asghar in the test squad for a while but didnt give a chance now dropped.

Im wondering how better is kashif bhatti compared to zafar gohar, umer khan and asghar in FC cricket has he got better records to show or just Misbah slected for his liking for old age players with enough number of games but less records to speak about.

 

[Bullet Drive]

Zafar probably is better batsman than Shadab for the longer game!!!! There must be something wrong with the guy - it's not only Misbah, previous selection panel also ignored him.

Zafar was injured, and at the time Inzi preferred Nawaz over him

 

[Abdullah719]

The awkward moment when the board doesn't know your name.

 

[MenInG]

The awkward moment when the board doesn't know your name.

Think that is the ultimate insult!

 

[Justcrazy]

Pakistan has a history of sacrificing good players for bits and pieces ones.

 

[Thunderbolt14]

The awkward moment when the board doesn't know your name.

Typo earlier on in the sentence as well - “including and extra member”.

Whoever wrote this wrote it in a hurry without anyone proofreading it.

 

[Kaddy]

The awkward moment when the board doesn't know your name.

A terrible mix up of Ali Zafar & Zafar Gohar.

 

[Saj]

By now, if he had been handled properly, Zafar should have been a regular pick in at least 1 format for Pakistan.

I'm sure the think-tank will select him when he's 35 years old and seen his best days.

 

[Titan24]

Bowled really well today 1/22 in 4 overs. I think he should have been the captain of CP in the absence of Babar.

 

[Varun]

How can one be allowed to come back into Pakistani team after oversleeping and missing a flight?

The standards are high.

You must have fixed matches, bitten balls, smoked weed on beaches, pirouetted on pitch, hit your coach, taken team oaths against your captain, done your own medical tests and some such exemplary stuff to have any chance of making a comeback.

Comment of the thread.

 

[Varun]

By now, if he had been handled properly, Zafar should have been a regular pick in at least 1 format for Pakistan.

I'm sure the think-tank will select him when he's 35 years old and seen his best days.

In Misbah's Pakistan you basically have 2 shots at cementing your place in the team.

First, when you're really fresh and green and 17 years old.

If you miss that boat, wait for your age to double. Then you're a first choice pick for sure!

 

[Titan24]

In Misbah's Pakistan you basically have 2 shots at cementing your place in the team.

First, when you're really fresh and green and 17 years old.

If you miss that boat, wait for your age to double. Then you're a first choice pick for sure!

At the moment it definitely looks like it.

 

[saeed5646]

In Misbah's Pakistan you basically have 2 shots at cementing your place in the team.

First, when you're really fresh and green and 17 years old.

If you miss that boat, wait for your age to double. Then you're a first choice pick for sure!

I am eager to ask same question from misbah .☹

 

[The Viper]

Hopefully he remains in CP's starting 11 for the rest of the tournament.

 

[Officer Barbrady]

Can’t figure out why he was left out of the first two games. Same thing happened in the PSL.

 

[Titan24]

Can’t figure out why he was left out of the first two games. Same thing happened in the PSL.

In Central Punjab, Faheem's unavailability due to fitness issues impacted Zafar's selection I think. Faheem at no 7 would have meant two spinners and two other pacers could have been easily played however with him out of the picture the 5th bowling option was spin as well with Qasim Akram and Saad Nasim along with bit of medium pace of Irfan Khan.

So unless CP would have opted for a 2 specialist pacers and 3 spinners attack like they did today they would have been forced to select only one spinner. One can definitely argue that if only one specialist spinner then that should have been Zafar as he has been a top performer for them in QAE as well but, Usman Qadir did well last season and leggies have been a go to spin option for most T20 teams around the world and to be honest he has bowled well except one match.

So that was the kind of things that would have been in the minds of CP management I think.

 

[Titan24]

Can’t figure out why he was left out of the first two games. Same thing happened in the PSL.

In the first match selecting Bilal Asif over him when CP went with 2 spinners was a shocker though.

 

[Saj]

3-30 and Man of the Match in the Pakistan Cup match today for CP v KPK

 

[Xoib]

Would be a massive upgrade on nawaz

 

[Sher Khan]

Surely he is a better test spinner than Zahid Mahmood?

 

[Nikhil_cric]

PCB should have just continued to let him play ODIs 2015 onwards. Not sure why he was dropped. There's not a single spinner who had the level of talent he had.

 

[SpiritOf1903]

Surely he is a better test spinner than Zahid Mahmood?

I'm a better spinner than him!

 

[shamaan]

Gohar and Mubasir should be in the squad.

 

[Suleiman]

IIRC Zafar, Kamran Ghulam, Babar, Sami Aslam and Imam were all from the same “graduating class” of U19 WCs more or less. Yet only 2 have gotten a proper shot.

All of them have potential to play at the big stage, so I don’t understand the reason for putting Zafar and Kamran on the undercard again and again. Zafar is a decent bat too from what I recall and may be a better spinner than Nawaz.

He’s gotten chances once in years, never a proper run. PCB the most mismanaged and short sighted board strikes again.

Can’t believe Zahid got a chance over this lad. Well done Saqlain + Babar + Selectors.

 

[MenInG]

Central Punjab v Southern Punjab, NBP Sports Complex - Pakistan Cup

Zafar Gohar, batting at number eight, scored a handful 43-ball 36, smashing three fours and two sixes. Zafar was then the top wicket-taker for his side, taking three for 42 from nine overs

 

[Officer Barbrady]

Continues to do well but somehow not considered good enough to be amongst the 75 odd local players selected for the PSL.

 

[TeymurBlake]

Man the Gloucestershire move has done wonders for him.

He's become so consistent.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Zafar Gohar Support Thread.

Zafar Gohar deserves to be in the test side. No hype, no politics, no contacts, just based on his performance and the all time low depth of Pakistan spin stocks.

Is a very handy lower order batter as well with 1 FC century and is technically decent enough to chip in with crucial runs.

In his first stint with Gloucestershire in 2021, he made 4 appearances and took 20 wickets at an average of 14.

In his 2022 season with Gloucestershire in 11 FC games, took 47 wickets at average of 28 with 5 5fers and 2 4fers. With the bat, scored 493 runs at an average of 27 with 4 fifties.

Show some support for more deserving players especially in Asia in the current tumultuous period of Pak Cricket which is proving to be one of the worst times for our test side.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Continues to do well but somehow not considered good enough to be amongst the 75 odd local players selected for the PSL.

He's been signed with IU for years and still is with The United.

 

[Dark_Horse]

He alongside abrar in tet could easily destroy batting line ups. He alongside abrar and shadab/usama could strangle odi middle overs

 

[Seen Sheen]

Nawaz has been a massive let down under pressure circumstances.

Zafar is the best left arm spinner in Pakistan and he needs to get a look in the next series!

Why hasn't his performances for Gloucs been considered! He was outstanding with ball and very handy with the bat.

He even played 3 QeA trophy games and picked up 13 wickets at 27 (better than Nauman and Sajid).

Usama outshone him in Pakistan Cup but whenever I saw him bowl, he looked pretty good with his spin and control.

He is no mug with the bat as well and is a gun fielder. Should be in ODIs and Test squads.

 

[Officer Barbrady]

He's been signed with IU for years and still is with The United.

I don’t think he’s in the IU squad this time?

 

[Rana]

Pakistan need to keep him in the loop

Noman is 39. He’s not going to be there forever.

Gohar is 30, good athlete and a good batsman too. He can easily serve Pakistan for another 7-8 years given the way the wickets are going to be made for home Tests

 

[Sunny_majoka]

Pakistan need to keep him in the loop

Noman is 39. He’s not going to be there forever.

Gohar is 30, good athlete and a good batsman too. He can easily serve Pakistan for another 7-8 years given the way the wickets are going to be made for home Tests

Don't know why he is sidelined,

 

[Abid Z]

He’s British now. Has more chance playing for England.

 

[Rana]

He’s British now. Has more chance playing for England.

He hasn’t represented England and still holds a Pakistani passport I presume.

I wouldn’t let him slip

Pakistan’s next option is Mehran Mumtaz, and I don’t think he’s good enough to replace Noman in Tests

 

[Abid Z]

Pakistan certainly has lots of up and coming spinners. I actually think we missed a trick by not playing saim or KG but hey ho. I don’t know if zafar is still in contention.

I don’t think dual citizenship is allowed in this context. I’m British don’t have Pak passport but you never know I might get a call up and I have a working alarm clock.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

PCB let another international quality talent down.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Zafar was a workhorse TBH.. He was not given ca hance to show what he can do... ON these kind of pitches, he would have done even better job than noman and sajid IMO.

 

[Raja Ishtiaq]

He hasn’t represented England and still holds a Pakistani passport I presume.

I wouldn’t let him slip

Pakistan’s next option is Mehran Mumtaz, and I don’t think he’s good enough to replace Noman in Tests

Why on earth would Zafar prioritise playing for Pakistan who have continously shunned him? If I was Zafar I would continue playing first class cricket in England and wait for a chance to play for the national team!

It's more surprising why England haven't given him a chance seeing as they are lacking a quality spinner in test cricket!!

 

[Major]

Shadab khan destroyed him


Zafar was a good spinner but than Shadab came in and never alllowed him to bowl or play in IU

 

[Major]

Just read, he has a British passport and is now also eligible under icc rules to play for England. Onl thing left is the confirmation date.

This guy could end up playing in the ashes.