Pakistan fast bowler Umar Gul close to full fitness ahead of World Cup
Lahore, Feb,23 : Pakistan fast bowler Umar Gul is reported to making encouraging progress on the fitness front ahead of next month’s World Cup.
Gul, who has been out of action since the start of the South African tour in December with an injured fibula, claimed that he was feeling good over the last few days during the training camp at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) here.
“I’ve been working with the trainer Murray Stevenson and Dr Sohail Saleem [PCB doctor] and am now bowling from my full run-up and at my regular pace. I am confident that come the World Cup, I will have recovered fully,” he was quoted by a cricket web site as saying.
Gul is expected to undergo another MRI scan over the weekend to see how far his injury has healed.
Pakistan are expected to carry out full medical tests to assess the fitness of all their squad members during the training camp for the World Cup, which began at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore this morning.
Gul feels there is ample preparation time between now and Pakistan’s first game, against West Indies on March 13.
“It shouldn’t be a problem. I have the training camp in which I will be bowling as I would in match situations extensively,” he said. “We also have a couple of warm-up games before the opener where I can bowl in match conditions. It is my first time in the Caribbean so the matches will provide me an opportunity to get used to the conditions as well,” he was quoted, as saying.
Until he pulled up with the injury, Gul had been Pakistan’s best fast bowler over the second half of last year.
After a year out with a serious back injury, he returned last year, fitter, with a modified action and a little extra zip. It resulted in 34 Test wickets in his last seven matches and a string of impressive performances with the white ball, especially during the Champions Trophy in India.
