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Former Pakistan fast bowler Umar Gul has been named bowling coach of Quetta Gladiators ahead of the Pakistan Super League’s sixth edition. This will be Umer Gul’s first-ever coaching role after retiring from all forms of cricket last year.
He will replace Abdul Razzaq, who had been with the franchise for the last four seasons but had to step down after the PCB’s Conflict of Interest policy, which barred associations’ coaches from being involved in the league.
“Umer Gul will bring in a wealth of experience to our franchise,” franchise owner Nadeem Omar said in a statement. “He has a great T20 career and a standout successor for us to replace Abdul Razzaq, who had an amazing time with us over the years. Umer Gul’s modern-day cricket knowledge will surely help and support our young fast bowlers like Naseem Shah and Mohammad Husnain. I am very excited to have him on board, and I have no doubt that he can offer a great deal to our bowling unit for the PSL 2021.”
Abdul Razzaq joined Gladiators in the 2nd edition and has since been a part-time coach at the franchise. But the task ends with the PCB’s new policy that was bought last year in which coaches who are involved with the domestic circuit cannot sign in any capacity with the PSL franchise to avoid any conflict of interest. Abdul Razzaq is presently a head coach of one of the 6th associations – Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and is an active member of the national selection committee.
Umer Gul, 36, represented Pakistan in 47 Tests, 130 ODIs, and 60 T20Is from 2003-16. He decided to quit cricket following after National T20 Cup last year, where he played for Balochistan. He retired as a modern great of Pakistan fast bowling, being a leading wicket-taker during Pakistan’s run to the 2007 World T20 final.
The leading wicket-taker in the 2009 edition, Pakistan won the trophy. He spent much of this time heading the world T20 rankings, with a reputation as one of the best yorker bowlers in the format. His career-best, 5 for 6 against New Zealand at the World T20 in 2009, was, at the time, the best ever T20 bowling figures.
The policy could have affected Gul’s appointment as he is also a member of the PCB’s cricket committee, but the PCB confirmed that this appointment didn’t fall foul of their code of ethics.
