LAHORE: Members of the ICC T20 World Cup 2009 and Asia Cup 2012 winning Pakistan squads, fast bowler Umar Gul and off spinner Saeed Ajmal have been appointed fast bowling and spin bowling coaches for the Pakistan Men’s cricket team respectively.
Their inaugural assignments include the three test rubber against Australia scheduled from December 14, 2023 to January 7, 2024 and the T20I series against New Zealand from January 12 to January 21, 2024.
Umar Gul previously served as the bowling coach for the Pakistan Men’s Team during the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, and the subsequent series against New Zealand at home. He has also been the bowling coach for Quetta Gladiators in the last HBL PSL season and Afghanistan’s bowling coach in the ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup 2022. He made his international debut in 2003, representing Pakistan in 47 Tests (163 wickets at 34.06), 130 ODIs (179 wickets at 29.34), and 60 T20Is (85 wickets at 16.97) between 2003 and 2016.
Former world no. 1 ODI bowler S
aeed Ajmal will take charge as the Spin Bowling Coach. Saeed, who made his international debut in 2008, represented Pakistan in 35 Tests, 113 ODIs, and 64 T20Is, picking up 447 wickets across the three formats. He also served as the spin bowling coach with the HBL PSL franchise Islamabad United.
Expressing his joy over appointment as fast bowling coach of the Pakistan cricket team, Umar Gul said he was honoured to given the opportunity to contribute to Pakistan cricket by Chairman PCB Management Committee Zaka Ashraf.
He said ‘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 said he was grateful for the opportunity provided by Chairman PCB Management Committee 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”. He expressed the hope that his career and coaching experience will h
elp enhance the spin bowling arsenal of the team.