All-round Gul reaches peak fitness in HBL's rout of Lahore

Published November 18, 2015
Gul took 9/89 and scored 61 off 72 balls in Habib Bank's rout of Lahore. — AP
Gul took 9/89 and scored 61 off 72 balls in Habib Bank's rout of Lahore. — AP

A fit-again Umar Gul put in an all-round performance to give Habib Bank an innings and 56-run win over Lahore Whites in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Pool B match at the Lahore City Cricket Association Ground on Wednesday.

The 31-year-old paceman, who last played for Pakistan in April this year after coming back from an ankle injury, took 9/89 and scored 61 off 72 balls in Habib Bank's rout of Lahore. There were shades of the old Gul in first innings as the fast bowler picked up 7/32 in 11.1 overs to bowl out Lahore for 89.

Gul, who has represented Pakistan in 47 Tests, 126 one-day internationals and 58 Twenty20s, had not been able to find the form and fitness since he underwent a knee surgery in 2013.

The 31-year-old, dubbed a “yorker master”, said he has been eyeing an international comeback after last playing for Pakistan against Bangladesh in April.

Gul, whose services were restricted to the ODI and T20 sides in the last couple of seasons, will revel in his performance in the three-day match and perhaps erase some doubts about his fitness.

He bowled a total 31.1 overs without any visible discomfort and easily overshadowed the presence of Pakistan T20 captain and star all-rounder Shahid Afridi who also featured for Habib Bank.

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