Umar Gul bids farewell to all forms of cricket
Umar Gul Pakistan’s fast pacer bids farewell to all forms of cricket after a 20-year professional career.
The 36-year-old made the announcement of his decision on Friday night, after his team, Balochistan was eliminated from the ongoing National T20 Cup by the Shan Masood-led Southern Punjab.
In a social media message, he said that he had made the decision with a “heavy heart and after a lot of thinking”.
“I have always played for Pakistan with all my heart and 100 percent hard work. Cricket is and will always be my love and passion. But all good things have to come to an end”, he said in a series of tweets.
With a very heavy heart and after a lot of thinking, i have decided to bid farewell to all formats of cricket after this National T20 Cup. I have always played for Pakistan with all my heart and 100% of hardwork. Cricket is and will always be my love n passion 1/3
— Umar Gul (@mdk_gul) October 16, 2020
but all good things have to come to an end. Praying that the future will hold much more for me. Secondly, i would like to thank @TheRealPCB and all the coaches and people who have been a part of my cricketing journey. Special thanks to media, my fans and followers 2/3
— Umar Gul (@mdk_gul) October 16, 2020
who made it all worthwhile n supported me at all times. Thank u so much 3/3 #lovecricket #PakistanZindabad
— Umar Gul (@mdk_gul) October 16, 2020
Gul made waves in the cricketing world during the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2002 in New Zealand by claiming 11 wickets at 12.72 following a poor debut 2000-1 season.
He has played 125 first-class, 213 List-A and 167 T20 matches, in which he collected 987 wickets.
In a 237-match international career from 2003 to 2016, Umar Gul took 427 wickets.
The yokerman also played professional cricket in Australia, England, India and Sri Lanka, representing Western Australia, Gloucestershire, Sussex, Kolkata Knight Riders and Uva Next, respectively.
While on domestic grounds he represented HBL, Multan Sultans, North West Frontier Province (now known as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), PIA, Peshawar and as well as Quetta Gladiators.