Umar Gul To Retire From Cricket After Upcoming Domestic Season

Veteran Pakistan fast bowler Umar Gul has set date for retirement. The right-hand fast bowler, who made his last international appearance in 2016, has decided to hang up his boots after the upcoming domestic season. Veteran Pakistan opener Imran Farhat has also set the same date for retirement.

According to a report in geosuper.tv, the duo are looking at a transition period to coaching. The veterans are part of the Balochistan squad and had coaching offers this season as well but decided to play on. They have confirmed to have no intention to play beyond the 2020-21 season.

“I had said it last season that this one will be my last,” said the 38-year-old Farhat, who played 40 Tests, 58 ODIs and 7 T20Is for Pakistan between 2001 and 2013.

“I’ll see if I can play the entire season. If I keep on enjoying then I might.”

“I have now decided to get into coaching and bring the youth to the front,” he added.

Gul had been a reliable fast bowler for Pakistan. After the clinical Wasim Akram-Waqar Younis era, Gul became one of the most consistent bowler for the national team. But his career was marred with injuries which made his comeback to the side difficult.

In 2016, Umar Gul aggravated his knee, where he had a keyhole surgery, to prolong his international career. Although after a successful surgery that year in May, Umar Gul was picked up for a ODI series against England, he has been since then overlooked by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

Apart from his experience and consistency, his natural ability to move the ball, made him a lethal bowler. Umar Gul could also use the new-ball to the fore. He had the rare ability to produce reverse swings even with the ball, which was special sight to watch. However, in the last few years, a veteran of 130 ODIs and 47 Tests, Gul struggled to make an international comeback.