LAHORE, Jan 31: Pakistan’s talented young pacer Umar Gul, who missed the recent Test series in South Africa due to a nagging ankle injury, expressed hope that he would be resuming his bowling next week after having recovered fully from the setback.

"There is no pain in my ankle at the moment but the physiotherapist at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) has suggested that since my calf muscles are a bit weak, I need to do some exercises to develop them. That should allow me to resume bowling in next four or five days," Umar told Dawn on Wednesday.

Umar, whose impressive record of 61 wickets in 14 Tests makes him a frontline Test bowler and a major hope for the forthcoming World Cup, was ruled out of the Pakistan tour after he was unable to complete his third over of the morning in the side game at Kimberley. The injury later forced him to miss all the three Test matches and the five ODIs series commencing from Feb 4 against the Proteas.

Umar, who hails from NWFP, said that NCA physio Faisal had examined his physical condition soon after his return and he would be starting the workouts from Thursday. He added that the PCB Medical Commission had also examined him and fellow fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar last Monday.

Umar disclosed that he was cleared to play the third Test at Cape Town because his ankle was feeling good but coach Bob Woolmer felt it could be a risk ahead of the all-important World Cup and any aggravation to the injury could jeopardize his future in international cricket.

"Playing World Cup is one of my dreams,” he said. “In order to represent the country in the mega event with full force and fitness, I will be making all out efforts from hereon."

"I will try my level best to prove my match fitness before the announcement of the final World Cup squad," he added.

Umar, who recently signed with a contract with English county Gloucestershire for the 2007 season, said he was looking forward to the assignment. “That will definitely benefit my bowling,” he said.