Former Pakistan bowlers Umar Gul and Saeed Ajmal have been chosen as the national team’s fast bowling and spin bowling instructors for the forthcoming tour of Australia and New Zealand.
Former Pakistan bowlers Umar Gul and Saeed Ajmal have been chosen as the national team’s fast bowling and spin bowling instructors for the forthcoming tour of Australia and New Zealand. Umar, a part of the 2009 World T20 winning squad, has previously worked as a bowling coach with the Pakistan team, although this is Saeed’s first duty with the national team. The Pakistan cricket board said that the former stalwarts’ first tasks will be the Test series against Australia from December 14 to January 7, and the T20I series against New Zealand from January 12 to 21 next year.
In a series of changes following the national team’s disappointing World Cup campaign, the board has already chosen Muhammad Hafeez as Director and Head Coach of the Pakistan side, and fast bowler Wahab Riaz as the new Chief Selector.
The appointment of Umar and Saeed, as well as Hafeez, effectively means that foreign coaches such as Mickey Arthur and Grant Bradburn will no longer be working with the national team.
South African bowling coach Morne Morkel left last week, and the fielding coach has now moved.
Umar previously served as bowling coach for the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan, as well as the ensuing home series against New Zealand. He has also served as the bowling coach for the Pakistan Super League’s Quetta Gladiators.
He has also coached the Afghanistan national team.
Saeed, the champion off-spinner, had his career destroyed in 2015 after ICC officials reported his bowling action, had represented his country in 35 Tests, 113 ODIs, and 64 T20Is, taking 447 wickets across the three formats.
He has also worked as the spin bowling coach for PSL team Islamabad United.
