April 25, 2026, is a reminder of how rotten the system at Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is. It is now officially known thatZafar Gohar, the bright left-arm spinner, is already a British citizen and can now play for England. It is not merely a story of a sportsman seeking to relocate to foreign land in search of better pay but the shaming revelation of an order that prizes vanity over talent.
Pakistan has always been blessed with talent, but it has always squandered it. Zafar Gohar Defects to England is not only a headline, it is a cry of despair by hundreds of domestic players who have been crushed by the attitudes of national selectors. Zafar Gohar’s blood and sweat over years in the domestic circuit was not enough to see him given the chance that he deserved, as the system continues to play favourites with “stars”.
Ignoring 100+ Wickets: The County Cricket Snub
Zafar’s decision to join the English circuit came after the meritless selection process at home. Zafar Gohar has a two-season record of being a force to reckon with in the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) County league, and has recorded over 100 wickets.
However, on the occasion he had applied to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to have another opportunity in the national team, he was reportedly told by the cricket board that County performances do not count with us.
It is ironic that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) keeps giving second, third and fourth chances to out-of-form “superstars” who have a large social media presence, while a professional who has earned the right to the national side by performing against quality international batters in a foreign environment is deemed “irrelevant.”
The Communication Gap: Players as Laborers, Not Assets
The modern PCB structure is plagued by a massive communication void. According to sources close to Zafar, there was never a clear roadmap provided to him. Selectors often treat players as disposable employees rather than national assets.
When a professional athlete realizes that their hard work has no currency and their future depends entirely on the whims of a few people in a boardroom, the choice to seek “greener pastures” becomes a matter of professional survival. Zafar’s move is the natural result of this institutional coldness.
The Long-Term Damage: What Pakistan Loses
The loss of a spinner like Zafar Gohar is a big blow, especially for Pakistan’s Test team. With a clear spin-bowling problem in the national side, the loss of a spin-bowling specialist who knows the English circuit is indeed ironic.
If this attitude prevails, the domestic circuit will be reduced to a farce. Eventually, we will find our best talent representing other members of the International Cricket Council (ICC), while we are left wondering where it all went wrong.
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