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Zafar Gohar... Why does he never get a chance?

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Lfc4life786

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Feb 2, 2009
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Is anyone able to shed any light on the mysterious case of Zafar Gohar? In my opinion he’s probably One of the best spinners in Pakistan yet never gets a chance at international level. Hell, forget the full side, he doesn’t even get a look for the Pak A team. Not only that but he’s part of an extremely stacked Islamabad PSL outfit and has played minimal games for them.

Every time I’ve watched Zafar play I’ve been very impressed with his control, flight, action and most importantly his ability to turn the ball. I followed his career with purpose after his limited over debut for Pakistan against England back in 2015 where he impressed with 2 wickets for 52 runs in 10 over quota fully expecting him to push on. Alas he hasn’t and I’m bitterly disappointed for him.

I really want to see him given an opportunity in all formats. For tests, imo he is ideal as a foil for Yasir and historically the left arm right arm spin combo has served us extremely well. Bilal asif for me is extremely average and at 33 offers no longevity. Get Zafar in ASAP imo, groom him and give him the chance to succeed under Sarfaraz.

The lad can also bat and imo would be a genuine wicket taking option in limited overs. I’m not a fan at all off Nawaz, I think he’s below average and Imad although miserly I’ve never been fully convinced in any other format other then T20 internationals. There’s room for both Zafar & shahab In ODIs for me especially on the sub continent.

So what’s everyone’s thoughts? Am I overrating him, is he really not that good or has he genuinely been hard done by? We aren’t stacked and over loaded with quality spinners unfortunately. Zafar for me, has the potential and talent to be very good for us, why is he not getting that elusive chance?
 
Lfc4life786 said:
Is this actually a true story? I’ve heard this before but never believed it. What actually is meant to have happened?
Click to expand...

Yes.

http://www.pakpassion.net/ppforum/showthread.php?248806

For any young player to be called in for a major international series would be a dream come true and when he was called in to replace the injured Yasir Shah for the first Test in Abu Dhabi in late 2015, it appeared that a Test debut was in the offing. As fate would have it, this was not to be. Scheduled to fly overnight to the UAE, Gohar missed his flight due to bizarre reasons which he clarified.

“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.”
Click to expand...
 
[MENTION=9]Saj[/MENTION] anything you can do for Zafar bro and the injustice he is facing? Doesn’t get selected for any pak side & gets minimal games for Islamabad. Not being selected in the emerging squad has to be the final straw for one of the most promising and talented spinners on the Pakistan circuit. we are simply wasting away his talents.

As you can see im a big advocate of Zafar, are you able to put in a good word for the lad?
 
Tauseef Ahmed is meant to be the spin guru on the selection panel. Not sure how guys like Bilal Asif are favoured over Gohar.
 
Basically its Zafar vs Asghar and PCB seems to favour the later. Now this Irfan jailer has emerged as well.
 
Markhor said:
Tauseef Ahmed is meant to be the spin guru on the selection panel. Not sure how guys like Bilal Asif are favoured over Gohar.
Click to expand...

I know bro, it absolutely defies logic how they can’t see how average Bilal asif is. Also where is the long term planning? Bilal is 33 and yasir 32. Surely the one who partners yasir has to be a younger, promising option. Someone to be groomed. Historically the left arm, right arm option has served Pakistan well in the past with rehman, zulfi supporting ajmal & more recently yasir. We need to get back to that.
 
Lfc4life786 said:
Who is this shafqat dude? Genuinely never heard of him.
Click to expand...

Some rubbish bowler who played u19 for us an was by far the worst player in our u19 team. Don't even think he's played a domestic match yet but somehow he is preferred over Zafar gohar and kamran ghulam. I am sure this guy has got pretty good contacts. Inzi is turning out to be a disaster too.
 
Zafar gohar us a bowler...... and kamran ghulam is a more of a batsman who can turn his arm over like hafeez and sohail ....... average
 
Because he literally SLEPT on the opportunity he had which put a bad taste in the mouth of those who vouched for him in any manner.
 
Why would you over sleep and miss the flight? Better to give someone else a chance who is more passionate than him...
 
Lfc4life786 said:
[MENTION=9]Saj[/MENTION] anything you can do for Zafar bro and the injustice he is facing? Doesn’t get selected for any pak side & gets minimal games for Islamabad. Not being selected in the emerging squad has to be the final straw for one of the most promising and talented spinners on the Pakistan circuit. we are simply wasting away his talents.

As you can see im a big advocate of Zafar, are you able to put in a good word for the lad?
Click to expand...

Tweeted a video of him recently. He's got a chance to impress for Islamabad at the PSL.

Let's see, we can but try.
 
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His non selection is obviously political. A good spinner , excellent fielder , and more than capable batsmen yet he still isn't selected .

Only in Pakistan :))
 
Saj said:
Tweeted a video of him recently. He's got a chance to impress for Islamabad at the PSL.

Let's see, we can but try.
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Thanks for the reply [MENTION=9]Saj[/MENTION] bro. Yes please try something, and I am here to offer all my support with this too. My fear is like the last edition of PSL he will be a bench player purely there to make up the numbers. Shadab & samit were the ISL first choice spinners last year and Zafar hardly got a look in, bar some dead rubber matches. He has all the potential in the world and needs to be given a proper chance to show it.

Please let’s see what we can do Saj. Thanks!
 
Hasan123 said:
His non selection is obviously political. A good spinner , excellent fielder , and more than capable batsmen yet he still isn't selected .

Only in Pakistan :))
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He did better than both Sami and Haq in that u19 team but Wasim and Raza Hasan have been given the breaks
 
chacha kashmiri said:
He did better than both Sami and Haq in that u19 team but Wasim and Raza Hasan have been given the breaks
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Perplexing. Surely it can’t just be because he missed the ‘phone call?’ It’s really not the worst kind of mistake in terms of Pakistan cricket. Forget, move on & give him a fair crack.
 
Umm..


Because in one over, he bowls 3 good balls and 3 "HIT ME FOR A SIX OUT OF THIS PARK!!!" deliveries.


You don't want an economy rate of 18 bowler, ever, anywhere.

Prove to me that he cannot bowl more than 1 -2 'hit me anywhere' deliveries per over.

It's this typical Pak fan mentality. Anyone who's not in the team is better than the ones playing in the team.

:shezzy2
 
Hawkeye said:
Umm..


Because in one over, he bowls 3 good balls and 3 "HIT ME FOR A SIX OUT OF THIS PARK!!!" deliveries.


You don't want an economy rate of 18 bowler, ever, anywhere.

Prove to me that he cannot bowl more than 1 -2 'hit me anywhere' deliveries per over.

It's this typical Pak fan mentality. Anyone who's not in the team is better than the ones playing in the team.

:shezzy2
Click to expand...

He was very impressive in the one international game I saw against England, in bowling and with his determined batting. English commentators were full of praise.
 
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Hawkeye said:
Umm..


Because in one over, he bowls 3 good balls and 3 "HIT ME FOR A SIX OUT OF THIS PARK!!!" deliveries.


You don't want an economy rate of 18 bowler, ever, anywhere.

Prove to me that he cannot bowl more than 1 -2 'hit me anywhere' deliveries per over.

It's this typical Pak fan mentality. Anyone who's not in the team is better than the ones playing in the team.

:shezzy2
Click to expand...

Stop making things up.
 
Hawkeye said:
Umm..


Because in one over, he bowls 3 good balls and 3 "HIT ME FOR A SIX OUT OF THIS PARK!!!" deliveries.


You don't want an economy rate of 18 bowler, ever, anywhere.

Prove to me that he cannot bowl more than 1 -2 'hit me anywhere' deliveries per over.

It's this typical Pak fan mentality. Anyone who's not in the team is better than the ones playing in the team.

:shezzy2
Click to expand...

He has the most potential among all the young spinners I saw. Even if what you say is true, he can only learn when he bowls note not while sitting outside the team.
 
Hawkeye said:
Umm..


Because in one over, he bowls 3 good balls and 3 "HIT ME FOR A SIX OUT OF THIS PARK!!!" deliveries.


You don't want an economy rate of 18 bowler, ever, anywhere.

Prove to me that he cannot bowl more than 1 -2 'hit me anywhere' deliveries per over.

It's this typical Pak fan mentality. Anyone who's not in the team is better than the ones playing in the team.

:shezzy2
Click to expand...

Of the 43 bowlers who have picked up more than 20 wickets in the QEA Trophy this season, only three have a better economy than Zafar (2.39). His economy in the One-Day Cup was also a very respectable 4.86.

But do go on :asadrauf
 
Abdullah719 said:
Of the 43 bowlers who have picked up more than 20 wickets in the QEA Trophy this season, only three have a better economy than Zafar (2.39). His economy in the One-Day Cup was also a very respectable 4.86.

But do go on :asadrauf
Click to expand...

Don't bring facts. He doesn't like players who have been mistreated by misbah so he has to make up some nonsense to back misbah.
 
Abdullah719 said:
Of the 43 bowlers who have picked up more than 20 wickets in the QEA Trophy this season, only three have a better economy than Zafar (2.39). His economy in the One-Day Cup was also a very respectable 4.86.

But do go on :asadrauf
Click to expand...

Take the win here brother, shut down that silly comment in a major way.
 
Arham_PakFan said:
Even in the PSL he was given an opportunity, picked up 3 wickets and dropped the next game.
Click to expand...

I know bro it’s absolutely infuriating how we treat some of our youngsters (& fawad alam). They should be given first priority in these major tournaments. I still believe they should make a 7th team purely consisting of promising youngsters/emerging players and an experienced captain. This should the standard for all major worldwide T20 franchises. All your standard sides with overseas stars and one side just purely filled with young stars from that respective home nation. Think a serious trick is being missed not implementing such an idea.
 
Abdullah719 said:
Of the 43 bowlers who have picked up more than 20 wickets in the QEA Trophy this season, only three have a better economy than Zafar (2.39). His economy in the One-Day Cup was also a very respectable 4.86.

But do go on :asadrauf
Click to expand...

Another fact slap from [MENTION=133760]Abdullah719[/MENTION] :)))
 
Hawkeye said:
Umm..


Because in one over, he bowls 3 good balls and 3 "HIT ME FOR A SIX OUT OF THIS PARK!!!" deliveries.

You don't want an economy rate of 18 bowler, ever, anywhere.

Prove to me that he cannot bowl more than 1 -2 'hit me anywhere' deliveries per over.

It's this typical Pak fan mentality. Anyone who's not in the team is better than the ones playing in the team.

:shezzy2
Click to expand...

Bizzare comments. Zafar is quality but hardly gets chances. He performed well for Islamabad but then got dropped for no reason. He is much much better than the flop that Bilal Asif is.
 
He's a very positive guy with a very good attitude.

Met him a few times and he is not one to moan or whine.

Even today he sent me a message to say that he remains positive and that he is hopeful of a turnaround in his fortunes.
 
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Saj said:
He's a very positive guy with a very good attitude.

Met him a few times and he is notone to moan or whine.

Even today he sent me a message to say that he remains positive and that he is hopeful of a turnaround in his fortunes.
Click to expand...

Thank you for what you do for Pakistan cricket behind the scenes. :)

Think Gohar will be playing for Pakistan in a few years time if he keeps performing as he has age on his side.
 
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Saj said:
He's a very positive guy with a very good attitude.

Met him a few times and he is not one to moan or whine.

Even today he sent me a message to say that he remains positive and that he is hopeful of a turnaround in his fortunes.
Click to expand...

Nice to see his spirits are raised and he’s feeling positive. Whatever we can do for the lad Saj would be helpful. Really hope Islamabad give him a proper go. We could be seeing the future of Pakistan spin with him & shadab bowling in tandem.
 
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ahmadharis1 said:
Ideally he'd be playing all 3 formats
Click to expand...

Absolutely agreed. Think he has the talent & potential to thrive in all 3 formats from what I’ve seen of him. Not only is a very talented offie but crucially he can bat and field which is a must for the modern game. Really hope he gets a chance sooner rather then later.
 
Lfc4life786 said:
Perplexing. Surely it can’t just be because he missed the ‘phone call?’ It’s really not the worst kind of mistake in terms of Pakistan cricket. Forget, move on & give him a fair crack.
Click to expand...

Something must have happened in that u19 team because he’s never represented Pakistan since
Same with Saud Shakeel


Maybe he should force himself into the nets and try and get some wickets for Lahore
 
This guy is good, is there any chance he can play for Pakistan? Did he get picked for PSL?
 
He's a better spinner than Shadab. Not sure about his batting . His fielding is excellent. He should be given a a chance.
 
He is very similar to Nawaz. What special skills does he have? We should focus on improving our leggie, shadab, and should hire a leg spinner coach
 
xricket said:
He doesn't sound really impressive. Getting into an arguments with senior players, here in this video.

Also, even Khurram Manzoor bashed him. So, not sure how is he even worth a try.

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6aqwhk
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Im42N3Y.png


Getting bashed by Khurram Manzoor in one match doesn't mean he's rubbish.
 
Finally gets a chance to play in the PSL! One wicket to his name also.
 
Whatever little I have seen of him he looks solid. Can perhaps be tried in the test line up first.
 
Got a wicket in his first over. He did bowl a rash over where Umar Akmal hit him for two sixes. But the point is his a wivket taker. Why did Sami not bowl him earlier?
 
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