Gul not giving up on World T20 dream as Pakistan prepare to name squad
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Fast bowler Umar Gul is eyeing a spot in the World Twenty20 team as Pakistan prepares to name its 15-man squad for the tournament after a two-day delay.
The 31-year-old pacer was selected for the recently concluded T20 series against New Zealand after a gap of about 10 months but Gul finished with just two wickets after being picked for only two games of the three-match series.
The series was a nightmare for Pakistani bowlers but Gul is hoping the selectors don't make a judgement on two outings alone.
“I think if a player returns to the team after a gap of six or seven months and is then kicked out again, it’s quite harsh,” he said while talking to Dawn on Tuesday.
The right-arm bowler has featured regularly in domestic cricket recently and has played in all of Quetta Gladiators' matches in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL), picking up four wickets in as many fixtures.
“I’ve been playing domestic cricket regularly and have featured in all PSL matches so far and feeling fully fit too,” he said.
“I’m putting in a lot of effort and my rhythm is good too,” added the paceman.
Gul, who has played 47 Tests and 126 ODIs for Pakistan since making his debut in 2003, termed the PSL as a top level competition which would provide young local players with the ideal platform to launch their careers.
“PSL is no less than any another big T20 cricket league. So far, it has been as enjoyable an experience as playing in the Big Bash or England.”
The Gladiators have won three out of their four matches and have emerged as potential title contenders, but according to Gul, it was too early to describe any team as favourites.
“It’s too early to say that Quetta are PSL title contenders since we have just completed the first round,”
But with Moin Khan and Sir Vivian Richards as their coach and mentor, the Gladiators could just go all the way.
“Viv Richards is surely an inspiration for every Quetta player. He motivates us through the famous saying ‘kill them before they kill you,’” he added.
“Therefore we try to go for the kill as soon as we gain control over the match and this will continue to be our approach.”
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On DawnNews
Comments (39) Closed
Feb 10, 2016 12:48am
He is better bowler when compared to wasim Akram or waqar or akhtar.He should be included in world cup team.
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Feb 10, 2016 12:53am
@Lafanga Did you seriously just call him better than Akram and Waqar? His time is long past over. Even domestic Pakistani batsmen are hitting him all over the ground.
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Feb 10, 2016 12:58am
@LAFANGA: Are you being sarcastic ?
I do rate Gul as a very good bowler, particularly, his death bowling skills are second to none. However, there was a period where Junaid Khan was given precedence over him and that I think was a difficult phase. Junaid is average at international level and overated, so is Bilawal, so is Irfan. I could even include Anwar Ali on this list but at least he can bat..
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Feb 10, 2016 01:01am
@Lafanga I doubt you have ever watched Wasim, Waqar or Shoaib bowl!
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Feb 10, 2016 01:15am
experience plus big game player label makes him a perfect choice over tanvir and few other.
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Feb 10, 2016 01:20am
Why is Gul sharing Viv Richard's pep talk. That's supposed to be private between coach and team. Btw, it appears that Gul is more worried about his own career than Pakistan winning.
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Feb 10, 2016 01:25am
His chances of being selected for the world cup were destroyed in just one over by Umar Akmal. I think, both Umar Gul and Wahab should be left back. Wahab has no variety, no swing and no yorker. Since that spell against Watson, he no nothing but bowling short. Sohail Tanveer still remains to be the most innovative and thinking bowler suited to T20. Pakistan's biggest concern is batting and to counter that, we need to play all-rounders all the way to number 10. Imad Wasim, Mohammad Nawaz, Sohail tanveer and Anwer Ali, all should make the playing eleven.
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Feb 10, 2016 01:47am
@Saad don't feed the trolls
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Feb 10, 2016 01:56am
@Lafanga What????
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Feb 10, 2016 02:01am
No more parchi players please.
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Feb 10, 2016 02:08am
@Saad Waqar and Akram are past we should move on from past players n think about the current players i agree with the guy above Gul is better than Waqar and Akram in many ways he has been a part of our team when our batting line up is horrible and when players get dropped over their performance in just 1 match
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Feb 10, 2016 02:26am
he is not impressive in PSL. would be a poor selection if get selected. Ruman Raees is even bowling better than him. Amir Zafar Gohar Ruman Raees Muhammed Nawaz Anwar Ali and imad wasim are the better options for selection.
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Feb 10, 2016 02:30am
Best of luck Gul.
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Feb 10, 2016 03:03am
@Lafanga I am sure Akram and Waqar can bowl better than him even at the age they are currently in
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Feb 10, 2016 03:07am
He had been an amazing bowler - no doubt. But currently not really a threat to today's batsmen. Unfortunately - every bowler or barsman in Pakistan says that he is fit and feeling good about his rhthym, but proving in international matches is another thing.
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Feb 10, 2016 04:26am
@CQU UT he has never performed in big competitions. Check his record during knock out stages he has always been very expensive
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Feb 10, 2016 04:28am
Sohail tan veer is the most over rated bowler in the world.
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Feb 10, 2016 04:39am
One thing is certain with him, when he plays he gives 100% and because of that he suceed more often than other for e.g., Wahab Riaz and Junaid Khan. If he is 100% fit, I will pick him over Wahab and Junaid.
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Feb 10, 2016 04:46am
New Height? What new heights? He has been mercilessly by 2nd & 3rd rated batsmen in PSL.
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Feb 10, 2016 04:47am
@Salma Shahid. Agree with 100% sister.
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Feb 10, 2016 05:55am
The VIV RICHARDS philosophy: Kill them before they kill you. That is what is required by Pakistan instead of whatever Waqar Younis is preaching. PCB should ask the great Viv to take over the reins of the Pakistan cricket team for some time. If he can make 'killers' out of the present lot, Pakistan would be unbeatable.
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Feb 10, 2016 06:02am
I have no doubt Gul is a great person and a passionate team player. He just leaks too many runs. Gul keeps bowling bad balls and getting hit for sixes. not sure why he can't bowl even two good yorkers in a row anymore. If you have lost the ability to be a deadly bowler, then at least don't leak runs. Should have one of the two things going on for a bowler. Hope teams goes with more spinners like in the T20 world cup we won. Should bowl from the lineup: Asghar, Shahid, Shoaib, Amir, Anwar, Irfan, Sohail Khan and maybe Imad. The rest are not international level unfortunately.
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Feb 10, 2016 06:03am
@Lafanga That's probably not true even now, at their age!
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Feb 10, 2016 06:09am
@Salma Shahid That is a good analysis. I think the same about Wahab and Gul. unfortunately, neither can bowl two good yorkers in a row. Sometimes it feels like they are making a mockery of the legacy of Wasim, Imran and Waqar. A country that produced the deadliest bowlers in the histroy now have fast bowlers how cannot bowl just two good balls in a row. They need to give Shoaib full quota of his overs; he keeps the run rate down.
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Feb 10, 2016 06:52am
I think he is better than anyone else in the team except Aamir. Wahab, Rahat and other pacers don't have the right action and can only be a 'filler' bowler.
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Feb 10, 2016 07:05am
i like umer gul but this guy gets hammer in every over
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Feb 10, 2016 07:40am
@Lafanga Are you in you sense brother."He is better bowler when compared to wasim Akram or waqar or akhtar." That is joke of the millennium.
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Feb 10, 2016 08:31am
Khuda ke lye Gul ko mat include kro ... For God Sake ... He only throws straight ball ... No talent ... There are couple of new talent left arm bowlers have showed their talent if u put them uell win this would cup...
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Feb 10, 2016 09:45am
umer gull,abdul razzaq,saed ajmal,youniskhan.
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Feb 10, 2016 10:12am
Was prove your worth and then complain for not being selected. talented players like Sadaf Hussain haven't been given a chance.
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Feb 10, 2016 01:00pm
This guy has disappointed us in terms of potential and his achievements, Like to see him in Pakistan team. used to ball good yorkers.
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Feb 10, 2016 01:01pm
Gul is not suitable now for any format of today's cricket after recovery of his injury. his performance is not as good as was prior to his injury. He is conceding almost 10 run per over which is enough point to exclude him from wc squad. Although except Aamir no bowler is available for Pak to restrict big hitting batsmen. Those days now gone when pak used to be called world best bowling attack country. My suggestion is for PCB is to produce power hitting batsmen now because limited over games are now the batsman game, pitches are flat, rules are against bowler. even bowlers like Stayne, Starc, Boult etc. can be thrashed by today's batsman. WC T20 is going to be held in India where pitches will be batsman friendly, So focus should be on to select big hitting batsmen in squad.
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Feb 10, 2016 01:03pm
@Lafanga :- I agree with you partially, but don t compare with Wasim at least, you check your stat , Pakistan with Wasim and without Wasim.
Wasim is the difference between India and Pakistan. you can see after Wasim left Pakistan started loosing more matches to India then ever before. Waqar never made much impact against India.
Waqar I would agree, Gul is better.
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Feb 10, 2016 01:13pm
"Time to wake up from the dream of last few years. Enough water has gone under the bridges - it ain't 2007 now" Mind These Words and play for t20 http://www.t20worldcup-2016.com/team-list worldcup... Thanks
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Feb 10, 2016 01:51pm
@Salma Shahid
I agree fully, No Gul and Wahab.
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Feb 10, 2016 02:11pm
Gul says it will be harsh to drop him after bringing him back after a gap of 6 to 7 months, I say it was harsh to be select at the first place, he is well past his prime he needs to retire now and think of Pakistan side and not about himself, why are people so selfish ? Look at Gilchrist, Mcgrath, Hayden and now McCullum, they retired, but they could have played for few more years, they set an example of selfless people.
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Feb 10, 2016 02:24pm
Pakistan have picked uncapped left-arm seamer Rumman Raees in their 15-man squad for the World T20 in India, and dropped opener Ahmed Shehzad.
Squad Shahid Afridi (capt), Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Sarfraz Ahmed, Babar Azam, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Anwar Ali, Mohammad Irfan, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Nawaz, Khurram Manzoor, Rumman Raees
http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc-world-twenty20-2016/content/story/971095.html
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Feb 10, 2016 05:37pm
Unfortunately he is past his prime in terms of speed and because of weak mental strength, he has not compensated that with wisdom that other greats like Hadlee, Lillee, Imran, Wasim, McGrath, Donald, Anderson, Vaas, Ambrose, Walsh etc did. We should look beyond Gul as he has not a single match winning performance in last 4 years.
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Feb 11, 2016 03:01pm
Hashim well quoted! This should be the motto of Pak team and there body language needs to improve. That said I am surprised about great Viv he fought from the front! And won on and off the field!
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