Lahore: Pakistan’s one of the best bowlers in limited-overs cricket, Umar Gul announced his retirement from all forms of the game post the domestic National T20 campaign with Balochistan’s first XI.
Gul made his one-day and Test debut against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe respectively back in 2003, but it was his five-wicket haul against India in 2004 that brought him into the limelight.
The 36-year-old right-arm pacer was the leading wicket-taker in the 2007 T20 World Cup (13 wickets in 7 games at an average of 11.92) and again excelled in 2009 (13 wickets in 7 games at an average of 12.15).
Gul was also the fifth-highest wicket-taker (35 wickets in 24 games at an average of 17.25), including the 5-6 against New Zealand, in the 2009 showpiece event.
The reverse-swing specialist, who claimed 14 wickets in the 2011 World Cup, played his last 50-over game for Pakistan against England in 2016.
Gul announced his retirement after Balochistan were knocked out of the National T20 Cup after losing to Southern Punjab.
“It has been an honour to represent my club, city, province and country at various levels for two decades. I have thoroughly enjoyed my cricket, which has taught me the values of hard work, respect, commitment and determination,” Gul said after the game.
Gul has played 47 Tests, 130 ODIs and 60 T20Is, claiming 163, 179, and 85 wickets respectively. He claimed 479 wickets in first-class cricket (in 125 games), 286 wickets in 213 List-A games, and 222 dismissals in 167 T20s.
