The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially appointed two former cricketing stalwarts, Umar Gul and Saeed Ajmal, to take charge as the new fast-bowling and spin-bowling coaches, respectively.
In an announcement on Tuesday, 21 November, PCB confirmed the roles for Umar Gul, renowned for his prowess as a pacer, and Saeed Ajmal, a spin wizard in his playing days. With extensive experience donning the Pakistan cricket colors, both bring a wealth of knowledge to their coaching roles.
Umar Gul, who played 237 matches for Pakistan, securing 427 wickets across formats, had previously served as the bowling coach for Pakistan in the T20I series against Afghanistan and the home series against New Zealand ahead of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. He also had a stint as the bowling coach for Afghanistan during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022.
Expressing his pleasure on the appointment, Gul stated, “I am pleased to join as the bowling coach of the Pakistan team and feel honored 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, with a remarkable record of 447 wickets in 212 international matches, showcased his spin brilliance during his playing career. He served as the spin bowling coach for Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Ajmal expressed his delight at the new role, stating, “I am truly honored and grateful for the opportunity to serve as the spin bowling coach. I am delighted to contribute to the development of spin bowling talent within the Pakistan national team.”
These appointments mark the latest phase of changes in the Pakistan men’s cricket team setup, following the 2023 World Cup. Mohammad Hafeez assumed the role of Team Director, Wahab Riaz became Chief Selector, and captaincy saw shifts with Babar Azam stepping down, Shan Masood named Test captain, and Shaheen Afridi appointed T20I captain.
As the revamped coaching staff and leadership gear up for their roles, the Pakistan team faces a challenging tour to Australia for a three-match Test series under the 2023-25 World Test Championship umbrella.
