LAHORE: Former Pakistan Test cricketers Umar Gul and Saeed Ajmal have been appointed as fast bowling and spin bowling coaches of the national side respectively, the country’s cricket board announced on Tuesday.

Ex-pacer Gul and off-spinner Ajmal are the first two members of the new Pakistan support staff under team director Mohammad Hafeez following the removal of his predecessor Mickey Arthur’s staff from their respective posts after the team’s dismal show at the World Cup in India.

The bowling coaches’ first assignment would be Pakistan’s upcoming three-match Test series against recently-crowned world champions Australia, who also hold the World Test Championship trophy.

Gul and Ajmal will continue to be with the Pakistan squad in the following five-match Twenty20 series in New Zealand.

Gul previously served as the Pakistan bowling coach during the three-match Twenty20 series against Afghanistan, and the subsequent series against New Zealand at home.

The right-armer has also been the bowling coach for Quetta Gladiators in the last Pakistan Super League season and Afghanistan’s bowling coach in the 2022 T20 World Cup.

Ajmal, meanwhile, has served as the spin bowling coach with the PSL franchise Islamabad United.

Published in Dawn, November 22th, 2023