KARACHI, Pakistan, CMC – Pakistan team manager Intikhab Alam has warned that fast bowler Umar Gul will be at his destructive best for the three-Test tour against West Indies later this month after refreshing himself by sitting out the one-day phase of the tour.
Gul opted out of the five One-Day Internationals beginning April 23, opting to rest and spend time with his family after a taxing World Cup campaign where Pakistan reached the semi-finals.
Intikhab said the right-armer was always more dangerous when he was well rested.
“Gul needed a rest. The last time when we rested him, he returned with a bang and I expect him to do that again soon,” Intikhab was quoted as saying as he looked ahead to the upcoming tour of the Caribbean.
The 26-year-old has become the spearhead of Pakistan’s attack in recent years, taking 125 wickets in 34 Tests.
Gul’s absence for the limited overs phase of the tour leaves Pakistan short of experience with speedster Shoaib Akhtar having retired after the World Cup and medium pacer Abdul Razzaq dropped.
Rookies Wahab Riaz, Juniad Khan and Sadaf Hussain are set to lead the attack in the one-day series but Intikhab said he believed they would adjust well.
“We have Wahab Riaz who is getting better and better,” he noted. “Junaid Khan is really good while Sadaf, we have been told, is a decent find.”
With authorities deciding against holding a preparation camp, the 16-man squad is expected to assemble in Lahore on Tuesday before they leave for the Caribbean on Thursday
“We will have light training during those two days,” he explained.
“We will have around four to five days before the series gets underway and that will be ample time for the players to adapt to the playing conditions in St Lucia.”
The tour opens with a Twenty20 International in St Lucia at the Beausejour Cricket Ground which will also be the venue for the first two One-Day Internationals.
