Afghanistan appoints Umar Gul as bowling coach

Former Pakistan fast bowler Umar Gul has been appointed as Afghanistan national team’s new bowling coach and consultant. He will be joining the national camp on April 4, 2022. Gul has experience of training at the domestic level as well as in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

He has been the bowling coach for the Quetta Gladiators in PSL, and has also accompanied the coaching staff in the Kashmir Premier League (KPL) and the Galle Gladiators team in the Lanka Premier League (LPL).

As per his agreement with the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), Gul will undergo a three-week period with the team, and if things work out in his favor at the end, he might be handed over an extension.

It is a pleasure to be associated with an international team: Umar Gul

“After coaching at PSL, KPL, LPL, and domestic level, it is a pleasure to be associated with an international team. I will try my best to help the Afghan bowlers with my experience,” Gul said in the statement issued by Cricket Pakistan. He informed about the news on his official Twitter handle.

“Honoured to be taking up this role with the @ACBofficials. Looking forward to imparting the best of the knowledge that I have and making it worth it for the boys”, tweeted Gul.

Gul, considered one of the best pacers in the history of T20I cricket, will be in charge of upgrading Afghanistan’s pace bowling unit. Afghanistan boast a plethora of quality spinners, but they don’t those many quality seamers on their side, which has been a matter of concern for a long time now. Gul started his role of being a coach immediately after announcing his retirement from international cricket in 2020.

Afghanistan recently roped in Graham Thorpe, former England batter, as the head coach of their side. Gul will be seen in action alongside Thorpe, who stepped down from his role with the ECB after their 0-4 Ashes loss.