View source for Umar Gul

{{short description|Pakistani cricket coach and former cricketer}}
{{pp-blp|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox cricketer
| name = Umar Gul
| image = Khizer Ahmed and Umar Gul (cropped).jpg
| caption = Gul in 2018
| country = Pakistan
| fullname = Umar Gul
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1982|10|15|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Peshawar]], Pakistan
| heightm = 1.91
| batting = Right-handed
| bowling = Right-arm [[Fast bowling|fast-medium]]
| role = [[Bowler (cricket)|Bowler]]
| family = [[Abbas Afridi (cricketer)|Abbas Afridi]] (nephew)
| international = true
| internationalspan = 2003–2016
| testdebutdate = 20 August
| testdebutyear = 2003
| testdebutagainst = Bangladesh
| testcap = 175
| lasttestdate = 14 February
| lasttestyear = 2013
| lasttestagainst = South Africa
| odidebutdate = 3 April
| odidebutyear = 2003
| odidebutagainst = Zimbabwe
| odicap = 145
| lastodidate = 15 March
| lastodiyear = 2013
| lastodiagainst = South Africa
| T20Idebutdate = 4 September
| T20Idebutyear = 2007
| T20Idebutfor = Pakistan
| T20Idebutagainst = Kenya
|        lastT20Idate = 17 January
|        lastT20Iyear = 2016
|     lastT20Iagainst = New Zealand
|             T20Icap = 21
| club1 = [[Pakistan International Airlines cricket team|Pakistan International Airlines]]
| year1 = {{nowrap|2001/02–2005/06}}
| club2 = [[Peshawar cricket team|Peshawar]]
| year2 = 2003/04–2011/12
| club3 = [[Habib Bank Limited cricket team|Habib Bank Limited]]
| year3 = 2006/07–2018/19
| club4 = [[Kolkata Knight Riders]]
| year4 = 2008
| club5 = [[North-West Frontier Province cricket team|North-West Frontier]]
| year5 = 2008/09
| club6 = [[Western Warriors|Western Australia]]
| year6 = 2008/09
| club7 = [[Sussex County Cricket Club|Sussex]]
| year7 = 2011
| club8 = [[Islamabad Leopards]]
| year8 = 2012/13–2014/15
| club9 = [[Habib Bank Limited cricket team|Habib Bank]]
| year9 = 2013/14

| club10 = [[Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cricket team|Khyber Pakhtunkhwa]]
| year10 = 2014
| club11 = [[Islamabad cricket team|Islamabad]]
| year11 = 2015/16–2018/19

| club12 = [[Quetta Gladiators]]
| year12 = 2016–2017
| club13 = [[Balochistan cricket team|Balochistan]]
| year13 = 2016–2020/21
| club14 = [[Sindh cricket team|Sindh]]
| year14 = 2017–2018/19
| club15 = [[Multan Sultans]]
| year15 = 2018

| columns = 4
| column1 = [[Test cricket|Test]]
| matches1 = 47
| runs1 = 577
| bat avg1 = 9.94
| 100s/50s1 = 0/1
| top score1 = 65[[not out|*]]
| deliveries1 = 9,599
| wickets1 = 163
| bowl avg1 = 34.06
| fivefor1 = 4
| tenfor1 = 0
| best bowling1 = 6/135
| catches/stumpings1 = 11/–
| column2 = [[One Day International|ODI]]
| matches2 = 130
| runs2 = 457
| bat avg2 = 9.72
| 100s/50s2 = 0/0
| top score2 = 39
| deliveries2 = 6,064
| wickets2 = 179
| bowl avg2 = 29.34
| fivefor2 = 2
| tenfor2 = 0
| best bowling2 = 6/42
| catches/stumpings2 = 17/–
| column3 = [[Twenty20 International|T20I]]
| matches3 = 60
| runs3 = 165
| bat avg3 = 9.16
| 100s/50s3 = 0/0
| top score3 = 32
| deliveries3 = 1,203
| wickets3 = 85
| bowl avg3 = 16.97
| fivefor3 = 2
| tenfor3 = 0
| best bowling3 = 5/6
| catches/stumpings3 = 18/–
| column4 = [[First-class cricket|FC]]
| matches4 = 125
| runs4 = 1,748
| bat avg4 = 12.05
| 100s/50s4 = 0/3
| top score4 = 65[[not out|*]]
| deliveries4 = 22,134
| wickets4 = 479
| bowl avg4 = 25.53
| fivefor4 = 27
| tenfor4 = 3
| best bowling4 = 8/78
| catches/stumpings4 = 29/–
| date = 16 October 2020
| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakistan/content/player/43524.html ESPNcricinfo
}}

'''Umar Gul''' ([[Urdu]]: {{nastaliq|عمر گل}}, {{langx|ps|عمر گل}}) (born 15 October 1982<ref>{{Cite web |title=Umar Gul |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/player/umar-gul-43524 |work=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Umar Gul on his actual Date of birth |url=https://twitter.com/mdk_gul/status/1514525542472728579 |access-date=2022-10-15 |website=Twitter |language=en}}</ref>) is a Pakistani cricket coach and former [[cricket]]er who is the current bowling consultant of [[Peshawar Zalmi]] and interim bowling coach of the [[Pakistan national cricket team]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/umar-gul-appointed-quetta-gladiators-bowling-coach-1247620|title=Umar Gul appointed Quetta Gladiators bowling coach}}</ref>  Gul was a member of the Pakistan team that won the [[2009 ICC World Twenty20]], being the highest wicket taker of the tournament, along with being the runner-up of the [[2007 ICC World Twenty20|2007 tournament]], in which he was also the highest wicket taker.

He played all three formats of the game as a right arm [[fast bowling|fast medium bowler]] for the [[Pakistani cricket team]].<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakistan/content/player/43524.html |title=Umar Gul |work=ESPNcricinfo |date=5 April 2012 |access-date=5 April 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{citation|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/44/44284/44284.html |title=Profile: Umar Gul |work=CricketArchive|url-access=subscription |date=5 April 2012 |access-date=5 April 2012 }}</ref>

Umar Gul was the second-highest wicket-taker in [[Twenty20 International]] cricket, with 74 dismissals, behind [[Saeed Ajmal]].<ref>{{citation|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/records/283194.html |title=T20I-Most wickets in career |work=ESPNcricinfo |date=2 October 2012|access-date=2 October 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/news/211459-umar-gul-needs-at-least-a-month-to-recover-after-knee-surgery|title=Umar Gul needs at least a month to recover after knee surgery – NDTV Sports|last=NDTVSports.com|access-date=29 July 2013|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304025426/http://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/news/211459-umar-gul-needs-at-least-a-month-to-recover-after-knee-surgery|url-status=dead}}</ref> He won the Twenty20 International Performance of the Year 2013.<ref>{{cite news|last=MidDay|title=ICC Annual Awards: Pujara wins 'Emerging Cricketer of the Year, Clarke wins 'Cricketer of the Year'|url=http://www.mid-day.com/sports/2013/dec/131213-icc-annual-awards-pujara-cricketer-year-clarke-dhoni.htm|access-date=13 December 2013|date=13 December 2013}}</ref>

On 16 October 2020, after the final group-stage match of the [[2020–21 National T20 Cup]], Gul retired from all forms of cricket following a career that spanned twenty years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pcb.com.pk/press-release-detail/pcb-congratulates-umar-gul-on-a-successful-career.html |title= PCB congratulates Umar Gul on a successful career |work=Pakistan Cricket Board |date= 10 January 2014 |access-date=16 October 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/30127286/pakistan-umar-gul-retires-all-forms-cricket |title=Umar Gul retires from all forms of cricket |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=16 October 2020}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Gul was born on 15 October 1982<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-15 |title=Umar Gul posts epic tweet after fans flood former Pakistan pacer with wishes on his 'wrong' birthday |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/umar-gul-posts-epic-tweet-after-fans-flood-former-pakistan-pacer-with-wishes-on-his-wrong-birthday-101650029848777.html |access-date=2022-10-15 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref> in [[Peshawar]], [[Pakistan]] in a middle-class family and frequently played [[tape ball cricket]]. He was encouraged by his friends to become an international cricketer as they saw his excellent bowling.

In October 2010, Gul married to a [[Dubai]]-based doctor.<ref>{{citation|url=http://gulfnews.com/sport/cricket/pakistani-pace-bowler-umar-gul-marries-dubai-doctor-1.694338 |title=Pakistani pace bowler Umar Gul marries Dubai doctor |publisher=[[Gulf News]] |date=10 October 2010 |access-date=5 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{citation |url=http://paktribune.com/sports/news/Pace-bowler-Umar-Gul-marries-Dubai-doctor-8536.html |title=Pace bowler Umar Gul marries Dubai doctor |publisher=[[PakTribune]] |date=10 October 2010 |access-date=5 April 2012 |archive-date=5 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305010213/http://paktribune.com/sports/news/Pace-bowler-Umar-Gul-marries-Dubai-doctor-8536.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{citation|url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010%5C10%5C11%5Cstory_11-10-2010_pg2_4 |title=Pace bowler Umar Gul marries Dubai doctor |publisher=[[Daily Times (Pakistan)|Daily Times]] |date=10 October 2010 |access-date=5 April 2012}}</ref> His daughter, Rehab Umar, was born in May 2012.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2021-03-10 |title=Umar Gul, wife welcome their third child, a baby girl |url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/2288598/umar-gul-wife-welcome-another-baby-girl |access-date=2022-04-04 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}}</ref> In the same month, [[Pakistan Army]] [[Commando#Pakistan|Commandos]] mistakenly raided Umar Gul's house in [[Peshawar]] and arrested his brother Meeraj Gul on the charge of hiding a wanted militant. However, the commandos later on apologized to Meeraj.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-05-30/off-the-field/31899554_1_umar-gul-army-raids-commandos | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130126062608/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-05-30/off-the-field/31899554_1_umar-gul-army-raids-commandos | url-status=dead | archive-date=26 January 2013 | work=[[The Times of India]] | title=Army raids Umar Gul's house; arrests his brother | date=30 May 2012}}</ref> Gul has two daughters and one son.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-17 |title=Umar Gul Biography, Age, Wife, Family, & Career Records |url=https://cricketersbiography.com/umar-gul/ |access-date=2023-12-13 |language=en-US}}</ref>

His nephew is cricketer [[Abbas Afridi (cricketer)|Abbas Afridi]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Shah|first=Sreshth|date=3 March 2021|title=Babar Azam, Mohammad Nabi and Abbas Afridi make it 13 in 13 for the chasing side|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/psl-2020-21-1238103/karachi-kings-vs-peshawar-zalmi-13th-match-1247023/match-report|access-date=5 March 2021|work=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=H. Khan|first=Khalid|date=4 March 2021|title=Nabi, Babar on song as Kings thump Zalmi by six wickets|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1610563|access-date=5 March 2021|website=[[Dawn News]]}}</ref>

==Domestic career==
In February 2008, Gul signed with the [[Indian Premier League]] and was drafted by [[Shah Rukh Khan|Shahrukh Khan]]'s [[Kolkata Knight Riders]] franchise for US$150,000.<ref>Kumar, Shiv; [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20080221/sports.htm Dhoni bought for Rs 6 crore]; Tribune India; 20 February 2008</ref> He played in six matches, taking 12 wickets at an average of 15.33,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Match scorecard |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/IND/Indian_Premier_League_2007-08/Bowling_by_StrikeRate.html |access-date=2022-04-04 |work=CricketArchive}}</ref> including a player of the match award in Kolkata's final game in which Gul took 4–23 and scored 24 runs from 11 balls.<ref>Varghese, Mathew; [http://content-gulf.cricinfo.com/pakistan/content/story/352422.html Ganguly and Gul end Kolkata's campaign on a high]; 25 May 2008</ref>

In December 2008, Gul signed with the [[Western Warriors]] to compete in the Australian domestic [[2008–09 KFC Twenty20 Big Bash]] tournament.<ref>[http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,24836842-5005402,00.html WA sign Pakistan star Umar Gul for Twenty20]; [[Perth Now]]; 23 December 2008</ref> He performed very well in his debut match for the Warriors, taking 4 wickets for 15 runs in a losing side. He was among the most successful bowlers in the competition. Despite not being available for the entire tournament, he finished second top wicket-taker with 12 wickets.<ref>Hope, Shane; [http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=4&ContentID=115789 Gul excited about WACA wicket]; [[The West Australian]]; 2 January 2009</ref>

In July 2014, he played for the MCC side in the [[Bicentenary Celebration match]] at [[Lord's]].<ref>{{cite web |title=MCC v Rest of the World – 5 July |url=http://www.lords.org/fixtures/fixtures-and-tickets/mcc-v-rest-of-the-world-5-july/ |work=Lord's |date=5 July 2014 |access-date=5 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140707031308/http://www.lords.org/fixtures/fixtures-and-tickets/mcc-v-rest-of-the-world-5-july/ |archive-date=7 July 2014}}</ref>

Gul had signed a one-year contract with [[Gloucestershire County Cricket Club|Gloucestershire]] to play in 2007, but the [[Pakistan Cricket Board]] failed to give them their permission.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/pakistan/content/story/296486.html|title=Edmondson bolsters Gloucestershire bowling}}</ref>

In April 2018, he was named in [[Baluchistan cricket team|Baluchistan]]'s squad for the [[2018 Pakistan Cup]].<ref name="squads1">{{cite web|url=https://www.geo.tv/latest/191967-pakistan-cup-one-day-tournament-to-begin-in-faisalabad |title=Pakistan Cup one-day tournament to begin in Faisalabad next week |access-date=21 April 2018 |work=Geo TV}}</ref><ref name="squads2">{{cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/306831-pakistan-cup-cricket-from-25th |title=Pakistan Cup Cricket from 25th |access-date=21 April 2018 |work=The News International}}</ref> In March 2019, he was named as the captain of [[Sindh cricket team|Sindh]]'s squad for the [[2019 Pakistan Cup]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pcb.com.pk/press-release-detail/federal-areas-aim-to-complete-hat-trick-of-pakistan-cup-titles.html |title=Federal Areas aim to complete hat-trick of Pakistan Cup titles |work=Pakistan Cricket Board |date=10 January 2014 |access-date=25 March 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/447913-pakistan-cup-one-day-cricket-from-april-2 |title=Pakistan Cup one-day cricket from April 2 |access-date=25 March 2019 |work=The International News}}</ref> In September 2019, he was named in the [[Balochistan cricket team|Balochistan]] squad for the [[2019–20 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy]] tournament.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pcb.com.pk/press-release-detail/pcb-announces-squads-for-2019-20-domestic-season.html |title=PCB announces squads for 2019-20 domestic season |work=Pakistan Cricket Board |date=10 January 2014 |access-date=4 September 2019 |archive-date=3 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190903183721/https://www.pcb.com.pk/press-release-detail/pcb-announces-squads-for-2019-20-domestic-season.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/27527401/sarfaraz-ahmed-babar-azam-take-charge-pakistan-domestic-sides |title=Sarfaraz Ahmed and Babar Azam to take charge of Pakistan domestic sides |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=4 September 2019}}</ref>

==International career==
===Early years===
Gul was first called up for the team in April 2003, playing four one-day matches at the [[Cherry Blossom Sharjah Cup 2003|Cherry Blossom Sharjah Cup]] against [[Zimbabwean cricket team|Zimbabwe]], [[Kenyan cricket team|Kenya]] and [[Sri Lankan cricket team|Sri Lanka]],<ref>{{citation| url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/current/match/65803.html | work=ESPNcricinfo | title=Cherry Blossom Sharjah Cup – 1st match | date=5 April 2012 | access-date=5 April 2012 }}</ref> where he took four wickets, and he was in and out of the one-day team after that tournament. However, he played the whole of the [[Bangladeshi cricket team in Pakistan in 2003|2003]] home series against [[Bangladeshi cricket team|Bangladesh]]. Making his Test debut, he took 15 wickets in the three Tests, the second-most wickets of any Pakistani bowler in the series, behind [[Shabbir Ahmed (cricketer)|Shabbir Ahmed]]'s 17. However, [[Shoaib Akhtar]], who took 13 wickets only played two of the Tests in that series.

Gul was retained for the ODIs against Bangladesh, taking a [[List A cricket|List A]] best five for 17 in nine overs in the third match, and ended with 11 wickets in the 5–0 series win. However, he could still not command a regular spot, playing three of Pakistan's nine next ODIs before finally getting dropped after one for 36 against [[New Zealand cricket team|New Zealand]].

===Test cricket===
He was recalled and played two Tests after that taking four wickets in a drawn Test against [[New Zealand cricket team|New Zealand]] before coming in as replacement for Shabbir Ahmed in the second Test of the three-Test series against [[Indian cricket team|India]]. After coming on as first-change bowler, Gul dismissed [[Virender Sehwag]] in his second over, and then bowled unchanged for 12 overs either side of lunch to take five Indian top order wickets – including [[Rahul Dravid]] and [[Sachin Tendulkar]], who both had Test batting averages above 50, as did Sehwag. Gul finished with five for 31 in his spell, earning him commendation from ESPNcricinfo journalist Dileep Premachandran, who praised his "control of line and length",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/134166.html|title=Yuvraj stands alone after Gul heroics}}</ref> and he was also named Man of the Match despite conceding runs at five an over in the second innings in a nine-wicket win.

After a length injury lay-off, which kept him out of international cricket for nearly two years, Gul returned to the Pakistan fold in 2006. Firstly with quiet away series against Sri Lanka then followed by a tour to England in 2006. Gul was quickly made the lead bowler in the side due to the injuries to other front line bowlers. Gul to 18 wickets in four tests, justifying the selectors faith in him.

Later in 2006, against West Indies at home, Gul had perhaps his most successful test series. He took 16 wickets in 3 tests, including notable spells of reverse swing bowling. He was responsible for breaking [[Ramnaresh Sarwan]]'s toe with a dipping yorker.

In February 2009, Gul recorded his best test figures in the Pakistan team, taking 6 for 135 on a flat pitch. In July 2010, Pakistan faced England at [[Trent Bridge]] and were 147/9 in their first innings. Gul scored 30[[Not out|*]] before the day was called off due to bad light. He returned the next day with [[Mohammad Asif (cricketer)|Mohammad Asif]] and batted with intent to add another 35 runs in five overs. This saw Pakistan avoid the follow-on against England and therefore survive an innings defeat.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pakistan in England Test Series 2010 – 1st Test|url=http://www.cricinfo.com/england-v-pakistan-2010/engine/current/match/426413.html|work=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=2010-08-02}}</ref>

Gul then suffered a hamstring injury in the second test when he was touring [[Pakistan cricket team in England in 2010|England in 2010]] he was ruled out for three weeks that meant he would miss the remaining two tests. However Gul managed to recover and became fit enough to play in the fourth test<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cricinfo.com/england-v-pakistan-2010/content/story/473973.html|title=Umar Gul winning fitness race}}</ref> However they decided to rest Gul for the final test match despite the fact that he had recovered quicker than expected.

His next chance to play test cricket came against South Africa in November 2010 when he took 3 wickets in a first innings and triggered a South African collapse of 380 on a flat wicket. He took the crucial wicket with an excellent inswinger against [[AB de Villiers]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/pakistan-v-south-africa-2010/content/story/486812.html|title=Pakistan fight back to leave contest level|date=13 November 2010|work=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref>

=== Twenty20 Internationals===
With injuries limiting Gul's test cricket participation, he made a distinct change to his bowling set-up, making a focus on bowling in the late overs of T20. He got his opportunity with the absence of [[Shoaib Akhtar]] and [[Abdul Razzaq (cricketer)|Abdul Razzaq]] in the [[2007 ICC World Twenty20]] held in [[South Africa]]. He bowled from the 13th over onwards and finished the tournament with 13 wickets, becoming the leading wicket taker ahead of [[Shahid Afridi]] and [[RP Singh]].

[[File:Umer Gul.jpg|thumb|Gul playing for [[Pakistan national cricket team|Pakistan]] in [[2009 ICC World Twenty20]]]]
In the [[2009 ICC World Twenty20]], he performed well, earning the mantle from at least one pundit of "the outstanding seam bowler of the World Twenty20".<ref>[[Lawrence Booth|Booth, Lawrence]]. "[[Myth]]s; And [[stereotype]]s." ''The Spin'', 30 June [[2009 in literature|2009]].</ref> His five-wicket haul for just six runs, when Pakistan defeated New Zealand, won especial acclaim. The spell made him the first bowler in history to take a five wickets in a Twenty20 international, and he held the record of best T20 bowling figure until 8 August 2011, when surpassed by [[Ajantha Mendis]] (6/16).<ref>{{Cite web |agency=Associated Press |date=2011-08-08 |title=Ajantha Mendis spins Sri Lanka to T20 series victory over Australia |url=http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/aug/08/sri-lanka-australia-twenty-20 |access-date=2022-04-04 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}</ref> Mutterings were made about a possible correlation between ball tampering and the exorbitant amounts of [[Reverse Swing|reverse swing]] he was able to extract, but he denied them categorically: "whenever an [[Asia]]n bowler performs and uses the reverse-swing, the Western cricketing countries raise the issue of ball-tampering against them."<ref>Quoted in Booth 2009.</ref> The spell was voted as the best T20I bowling performance of the year by ESPNcricinfo.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/awards2009/content/story/448899.html|title = Lord of the death|date = 19 February 2010}}</ref> He was named in the 'Team of the Tournament' by ESPNcricinfo for the 2009 T20I World Cup.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/wt202009/content/story/410204.html|title = The top crop}}</ref>

His spell was of 4 for 8 against Australia at Dubai was also nominated to be one of the Best T20I Bowling Performance of the year by ESPNcricinfo.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/awards2009/content/story/448517.html|title = A subcontinent special|date = 19 February 2010}}</ref>

He was also part of the Pakistan team that lifted the trophy at [[Lord's]] while also finishing as the leading wicket taker of the tournament for the second consecutive time.<ref>[http://stats.cricinfo.com/wt202009/engine/records/bowling/most_wickets_career.html?id=4162;type=tournament ICC World Twenty20, 2009]; [[Cricinfo.com]]; 22 June 2009</ref> He gained a lot of wickets bowled, in particular with late reverse swinging yorkers, which dip late to slide under the bat and leave little room for batsmen to maneuver the ball. Consequently, he has also an excellent economy rate in this format of the game.

Internationally, Gul has taken 47 wickets in 32 games at an average of 14.65. He is the second leading wicket-taker in [[Twenty20 Internationals]] behind teammate [[Shahid Afridi]].

=== One Day Internationals ===
Gul appeared in all three of Pakistan's group matches in the [[2007 Cricket World Cup|2007 World Cup]] taking four wickets with an economy rate of 3.13, only [[Shane Bond]] of those to deliver 100 balls was more economical.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/WI/ICC_World_Cup_2006-07/Bowling_by_Economy.html|title=Match scorecard|website=www.cricketarchive.com}}</ref> He also appeared in all of Pakistan's matches at the [[2007 ICC World Twenty20]] taking 3/15 off 4 overs in the semi-final victory over [[New Zealand national cricket team|New Zealand]]. He took three wickets in the final to finish as the tournament's leading wicket-taker.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stats.cricinfo.com/twenty20wc/engine/records/bowling/most_wickets_career.html?id=3115;type=tournament|title=Cricket Records – ICC World Twenty20, 2007/08 – Records – Most wickets – ESPNcricinfo}}</ref>

For his performances in 2009 and 2011, he was named in the World ODI XI by the ICC.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci-icc/content/story/427665.html|title=Johnson and Gambhir scoop top awards}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci-icc/content/story/532149.html|title=Dhoni leads ODI team of the year}}</ref> His spell of 6 for 42 against England at The Oval in 2010 was voted as the best ODI bowling performance of the year by ESPNcricinfo.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/awards2010/content/story/500292.html|title = The irresistible Umar Gul|date = 14 February 2011}}</ref>

In January 2016, Gul was suspended from international cricket for a doping offense.  Gul was recalled into the ODI squad on 9 August 2016 for the [[England]] and [[Ireland]] tour.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/england-v-pakistan-2016/content/story/1044231.html |title=Umar Gul returns to Pakistan's ODI squad |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=9 August 2016}}</ref>

===Injuries===
However, Gul was then ruled out of the third Test with a back injury which kept him out of cricket for an entire year. He returned to play two games at the [[2004–05 Pakistani cricket season|2004–05]] [[Faysal Bank T20 Cup]], and played some matches for [[Pakistan A cricket team|Pakistan A]] and a Pakistan XI in warm-up games before the Test matches against [[English cricket team|England]] the following season, but he was not selected for the matches and has instead played three matches with [[Peshawar cricket team|Peshawar]] at the [[Quaid-e-Azam Trophy]].

Shortly after making a six-month come-back from a shoulder injury in July 2010 Gul picked up a hamstring injury against England in August but it wasn't too serious and he only missed the two Test matches.

=== Batting skills ===
Despite being a bowler, Gul can perform well as a lower order batsman and has proved his ability as a quick.run-picker His finest moment with the bat came in a test match against [[Pakistan cricket team in England in 2010|England in August 2010]] when Pakistan were at 103/7 and Gul came into bat at 8. He scored 29 off 30 deliveries, and when play ended that day, two more wickets had fallen and the team were at 148/9. Pakistan needed 11 more runs to avoid the follow-on, and Gul then came in with his number 10 partner [[Mohammad Asif (cricketer)|Mohammad Asif]]. Gul scored 34 runs in just 11 deliveries however his partner [[Mohammad Asif (cricketer)|Mohammad Asif]] was run out at the other end and Gul ended on 65 not out.

== Post-retirement ==

=== Coaching career ===
In April 2022, Gul was appointed as bowling consultant by the [[Afghanistan national cricket team]] for a training camp which lasted 15 days.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cricketpakistan.com.pk/en/news/detail/umar-gul-appointed-afghanistan-bowling-coach|title=Umar Gul appointed Afghanistan bowling coach|work=Pakistan Cricket Board|access-date=2 April 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesnownews.com/sports/cricket/former-pakistan-pacer-umar-gul-appointed-bowling-coach-of-afghanistan-cricket-team-article-90602276|title=Former Pakistan pacer Umar Gul appointed bowling coach of Afghanistan cricket team|work=Times Now News|date=2 April 2022 |access-date=2 April 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Afghanistan sign up Younis Khan and Umar Gul as coaches for Abu Dhabi training camp |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/afghanistan-sign-up-younis-khan-and-umar-gul-as-coaches-for-abu-dhabi-training-camp-1308860 |access-date=2022-06-20 |work=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> In May 2022, he was given a permanent contract as the bowling coach of Afghanistan with his contract lasting until the end of 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-27 |title=Former Pakistan pacer Umar appointed Afghanistan bowling coach |url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/941838/former-pakistan-pacer-umar-appointed-afghanistan-bowling-coach/ |access-date=2022-06-20 |website=Daily Times |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Umar Gul named Afghanistan bowling coach |url=https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-news/122382/umar-gul-named-afghanistan-bowling-coach |access-date=2022-06-20 |website=Cricbuzz |date=25 May 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Pakistan legend Umar Gul joins Afghanistan as bowling coach |url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/2634546 |access-date=2022-06-20 |website=www.icc-cricket.com |language=en}}</ref> On 15 March 2023, Gul was appointed the interim bowling coach of the Pakistani cricket team for the [[Pakistani cricket team against Afghanistan in the UAE in 2022–23|Afghanistan series]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Abdur Rehman to be Pakistan's head coach for Afghanistan T20Is; Umar Gul named bowling coach |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/abdur-rehman-to-be-pakistan-s-head-coach-for-afghanistan-t20is-umar-gul-named-as-bowling-coach-1363633 |access-date=2023-03-16 |work=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Shahid Afridi]]
* [[Shoaib Malik]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{ESPNcricinfo |id= 43524 }}
* [http://www.wisdenindia.com/player/Pakistan/Umar-Gul/2959.html Umar Gul] at Wisden

{{Pakistan national cricket team coaches}}
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