Pakistan call on Umar Gul as bowling coach for Afghanistan T20Is

Gul, the former fast bowler, will work alongside interim head coach Abdul Rehman for the three-match series in Sharjah

Nick Friend | 15/03/2023 at 08:52

Former Pakistan seamer Umar Gul has been named as the country's bowling coach for their upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan.

Gul, who claimed 85 T20I wickets in 60 matches and earned a reputation as a fine death bowler, has previously worked with team's upcoming opponents; he was Afghanistan's bowling coach during last year's T20 World Cup.

He will assist Abdul Rehman, who has earned his opportunity as interim head coach through success at domestic level.

As well as assisting Andy Flower at Multan Sultans over the last four years, he has also led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to victory in the National T20 and Pakistan Cup, while also sharing the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy with Central Punjab.

Rehman has also worked as Peshawar Panthers' head coach and was part of Peshawar Zalmi's PSL coaching team in 2017.

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^{Gul worked with Afghanistan last year (Ishara S. Kodikara/Getty Images)}

Pakistan great Mohammad Yousuf continues as batting coach, with Abdul Majeed retained as fielding coach.

Since the departure of Saqlain Mushtaq, the PCB is yet to appoint a permanent head coach in his place; much effort was spent on trying to encourage Mickey Arthur into a return, but he has committed his future to county cricket with Derbyshire.

For the three-match series in Sharjah, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf are among those rested after busy PSL campaigns. Shadab Khan captains in Babar's place, with batter Saim Ayub and seamer Ihsanullah, breakthrough stars from the franchise competition, both included in the squad for the first time.