While the nation was preoccupied in discussing the possible return of spot-fixing tainted Mohammad Amir, it went largely unnoticed that another spearhead, Umar Gul, has been working hard in the gym to regain fitness and form as he aims for a comeback in the Pakistan team.

Gul, who represented Pakistan in 47 Tests, 126 one-day internationals and 58 Twenty20 Internationals, has not been quite able to regain fitness since he underwent a knee surgery in 2013.

The 31-year-old, often dubbed as a “yorker specialist”, said he has been eyeing an international comeback after last playing for Pakistan in April this year.

Gul, who was inducted into the side after the departure of greats Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis in 2003, fast became Pakistan's go-to man in the shorter formats of the game.

The man from Peshawar paired with Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Sami but later became the leader of the pack after Amir and Mohammad Asif were banned for spot-fixing along with then captain Salman Butt in 2010.

It is the T20 format, though, where Gul really found his rhythm and before his injury he had become somewhat of a specialist in that format.

He has twice returned figures of five wickets for six runs in T20s, against New Zealand at The Oval during Pakistan’s triumphant World T20 campaign in 2009 and then against South Africa at Centurion in 2013.

Seeing Gul working so hard in the gym even compelled swashbuckling Ahmed Shehzad to praise his efforts.

“Jubilant to [see] him working hard for his comeback and doesn't he look in good shape guys,” said Shehzad.