Umar Gul and Saeed Ajmal who were part of the 2009 T20 World Cup and 2012 Asia Cup winning squad have been appointed as Fast Bowling and Spin Bowling Coaches, respectively, for the Pakistan Men’s Team.
This strategic move comes ahead of the upcoming Test series against Australia (scheduled from December 14, 2023, to January 7, 2024) and the T20I series against New Zealand (slated for January 12 to 21, 2024).
Umar Gul, who previously served as the bowling coach in recent T20I series, brings a wealth of experience to the coaching staff. His coaching tenure includes roles with Quetta Gladiators in the last HBL PSL season and as Afghanistan’s bowling coach during the ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup 2022. Gul, with an illustrious international career spanning from 2003 to 2016, boasts 47 Tests, 130 ODIs, and 60 T20Is under his belt.
Meanwhile, former world no. 1 ODI bowler Saeed Ajmal takes on the role of Spin Bowling Coach. Ajmal, with an international career that commenced in 2008, represented Pakistan in 35 Tests, 113 ODIs, and 64 T20Is, amassing a remarkable 447 wickets across formats. His coaching experience includes a stint as the spin bowling coach for HBL PSL franchise Islamabad United.
Expressing his pleasure, Umar Gul stated, “I am pleased to join as the bowling coach of the Pakistan team and feel honoured to contribute to Pakistan cricket. Having had previous working experience with the men’s side, I will bring my coaching expertise with the aim of elevating Pakistan’s bowling prowess to new heights.”
Saeed Ajmal conveyed his enthusiasm, saying, “I am truly honoured and grateful for the opportunity provided by Chairman PCB Management Committee Mr Zaka Ashraf to serve as the spin bowling coach. I am delighted to contribute to the development of spin bowling talent within the Pakistan national team. I believe my career and coaching experience will help enhance the spin bowling arsenal of the team.”
