Pakistan Cricket Players: Umar Gul

Umar Gul biography

Full name Umar Gul
Born April 14, 1984, Peshawar, North-Western Frontier Province
Current age 27 years 248 days
Major teams Pakistan, Gloucestershire, Habib Bank Limited, Kolkata Knight Riders, North West Frontier Province, North West Frontier Province Panthers, Pakistan A, Pakistan International Airlines, Peshawar, Peshawar Panthers, Sussex, Western Australia

After speedsters Shoaib Akhtar and Muhammad Asif’s date with controversy, heads turned to Umar Gul to spearhead Pakistan’s pace attack in 2006. It had been 3 years since Gul made his debut in 2003 at Sharjah, replacing the Pakistani spell that failed to impress during the World Cup. With a flowing high-arm action, Gul’s precision, panache with swing, and ability to bowl yorkers at will means in him, Pakistan finds its replacement for the legendary Waqar Younis.

Gul’s champagne moment came in 2004, when he ripped through the world class Indian batting line-up on tour to take his first five-for. A multiple stress fracture halted his progress, forcing him to sit through the whole of 2005. He returned in 2006, but unfortunately, it coincided with Pakistan’s slump in Test form. He did help Pakistan to its last Test series victory, against West Indies.

Gul continued to do well for Pakistan in the longer and shorter forms, earning first favour with the rubber in the 2007 World Cup, though poor Pakistani batting performances saw an early exit from the tournament. As the T20 grew popular, Gul soon became the World’s finest in the format. He helped them to a final spot in 2007, eventually lifting the trophy in

2008.

Umar Gul