ISLAMABAD, Jan 25: Pakistan pace bowler Umar Gul, who returned from South Africa late on Wednesday due to a nagging ankle injury, said he will resume bowling within the next 10 days.

“I will stretch myself fully at the nets after a week,” said Umar soon after his arrival here from the tour.

Umar had aggravated his ankle injury prior to the first Test and the team management decided to send him back along with fellow fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar who is carrying a hamstring injury.

“Pakistan Cricket Board asked me not to take any risks with the injury which could have aggravated had I played in South Africa. Now I will have sufficient time to recover for the World Cup,” he said.

He recalled how he had felt a bit uncomfortable in the Twenty20 competition prior to the South Africa tour but “by the time I was selected in the team, the injury had healed-up.”

“It recurred somehow when I bowled at full stretch in the warm-up games in South Africa,” he said.

“I am thoroughly disappointed to miss the exciting series,” concluded Umar.—Agencies