Jafer Chohan's Journey: From Net Bowler to England Call-Up

Jafer Chohan embarked on a remarkable journey when he flew to the Caribbean on Monday, October 28, taking on the role of England’s newest wildcard in their white-ball cricket squads. Just two years ago, Chohan did not have a professional contract, and with only 23 appearances to his name, his story is one of rapid transformation, largely influenced by the mentorship of Adil Rashid and his brother Amar.

Unpredicted Debut

Chohan’s path to professional cricket was far from straightforward. Despite spending his teenage years within the Middlesex system, he was released at 17 and lost his passion for the sport. Starting at Loughborough University, he found himself playing for the third XI. Yet, within a year, he made an unexpected debut for Yorkshire in a televised T20 Blast match in May 2023.

SACA's Key Role

Key elements in Chohan’s journey included the South Asian Cricket Academy (SACA), an initiative created in late 2021 to retain talented South Asian players in the English cricket system. While playing for Berkshire in 2022, Chohan encountered Shoaib Bashir, which led to a recommendation to Tom Brown, the founder of SACA. He quickly joined their ranks, featuring in matches against county second XIs and catching the attention of scouts during a trial at the Adil Rashid Cricket Centre in Bradford. His performances, combined with having faced Darren Gough’s son in club cricket and the involvement of Yorkshire’s bowling coach Kabir Ali with SACA, played pivotal roles. By late 2022, Chohan was bowling to England’s top players in preparation for their Test tour to Pakistan.

Reflecting on that experience, Chohan shared that he bowled extensively to Joe Root during one session. Root, impressed by Chohan’s skills, asked if he played for any team. Chohan, still processing the moment, said no. Root then requested Chohan’s contact details to connect him with Yorkshire. By January 2023, Chohan secured a professional contract, stepping up as Yorkshire’s primary spinner during the Blast due to Rashid’s IPL absence. Speaking about the Rashid brothers, Chohan expressed deep gratitude, noting they had taken him under their wing like older siblings.

Though his first season in the Blast was uneventful, Chohan’s perseverance paid off in 2023 when he claimed 17 wickets in 10 matches, including a five-wicket haul on his 22nd birthday. Remarkably, he played through a broken thumb, defying medical advice. The injury sidelined him for the remainder of the season, costing him a spot in the Hundred. However, early October brought unexpected news: England’s call.

Recalling that moment, Chohan said he noticed a missed call and, on answering the second, heard Luke Wright inform him of his selection for the West Indies tour. Elated, he rushed to share the news with his father, who was in the middle of a Zoom meeting, and the realisation left them both astonished.

Adil Rashid had hinted at this possibility weeks earlier, advising Chohan not to be surprised if he received a call-up. Rashid had even predicted during a dinner the previous year that such an opportunity might arise within 12 to 18 months. Despite those assurances, Chohan admitted he never fully believed it until it happened.

Chohan describes his style as a balance between traditional legspin and its modern evolution. He credits Shahid Afridi for inspiring his longer run-up and notes that, while he bowls quicker than many spinners, he retains a slower, classical approach reminiscent of Adil Rashid. He believes his relative inexperience might prove advantageous, as the West Indian players are unlikely to have much footage of him, giving him the element of surprise.

“I need to capitalise on this moment when I’m still relatively unknown,” Chohan said, stating how rare these opportunities are. “Wearing an England shirt would be an incredible experience if I get the chance.”

Challenges for Chohan

Breaking into England’s team won’t be easy, given the wealth of spin options such as Rehan Ahmed, Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Dan Mousley, Will Jacks, and Rashid himself. If Chohan debuts, it will likely be in the five-match T20I series, as he has yet to play List A cricket.

Regardless of his immediate playing prospects, Chohan’s status as the first SACA graduate to earn an England call-up is a milestone. He expressed deep appreciation for SACA’s role in his journey, acknowledging how difficult it was to navigate the path back to professional cricket after being released from the system. “SACA gave me the break I needed,” he said. “Without it, finding a way back into the professional game would have been nearly impossible.”