Pakistan fast bowler, Umar Gul announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on Friday after Balochistan failed to qualify for the National T20 Cup semifinals.
The 36-year old Umar Gul started his international career in the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2002 in New Zealand by claiming 11 wickets at 12.72 following a poor debut 2000-21 season.
Gul made his debut for Pakistan against Zimbabwe in an ODI match at Sharjah in April 2003 and went on to play 47 Tests, 130 ODIs and 60 T20Is till September 2016 which was the last time he turned up for the national team. In a 237-match international career from 2003 to 2016, Umar captured 427 wickets. The lanky pacer played 125 first-class, 213 List-A and 167 T20 matches, in which he collected 987 wickets.
“With a very heavy heart and after a lot of thinking, I have decided to bid farewell to all formats of cricket after this National T20 Cup. I have always played for Pakistan with all my heart and 100 percent of hard work. Cricket is and will always be my love and passion but all good things have to come to an end,” the 36-year-old wrote on his Twitter handle.
“Praying that the future will hold much more for me. Secondly, I would like to thank @TheRealPCB and all the coaches and people who have been a part of my cricketing journey. Special thanks to media, my fans and followers who made it all worthwhile n supported me at all times,” Gul added.
Umar played professional cricket in Australia, England, India and Sri Lanka, representing Western Australia, Gloucestershire, Sussex, Kolkata Knight Rider and Uva Next, respectively, while his domestic sides were HBL, Multan Sultans, North-West Frontier Province (now known as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), PIA, Peshawar and Quetta Gladiators.
