Umar Gul is a right arm fast bowler who has been an integral part of the Pakistan national side for over a decade in all three formats.

Umar Gul is a right arm fast-medium bowler and has been the leader of the bowling attack in all three formats of the game. Gul made his debut by taking four wickets in April 2003 in the Cherry Blossom Sharjah Cup against Zimbabwe, Kenya and Sri Lanka.

Gul continued to represent Pakistan in tests against Bangladesh and New Zealand. However, he truly announced his arrival onto the international stage in the Lahore Test match against India in 2004. Gul moved the ball sharply both ways and ended up with innings figures of 5 for 31 including the scalps of Sehwag, Dravid and Tendulkar. Unfortunately, due to a serious back injury Gul was subsequently out of action for over a year. However, he returned to the side and has proved to be a key feature in the line up by taking wickets in all three forms of the game.

Umar Gul is Pakistan's premier bowler in the shorter format of the game, bowling with considerable hostility and accuracy and his inswinging yorker being key. He has particularly impressed in the final overs of limited overs cricket, with his ability to reverse swing the ball as well as bowl accurate tight spells at the batsmen's toes. In the Test match arena he has not quite fulfilled his early promise. He has had his moments though, no more so than his impact with the new ball as Pakistan whitewashed England in the UAE in 2012.

The best T20 fast bowler since the introduction of the format, he was the leading wicket taker in the 2007 ICC World T20, helping Pakistan reach the final and went one better in 2009, his match-defining performance in the semi-final against South Africa remembered for the six reverse-swinging yorkers he bowled in one of the latter overs.

Since his latest back injury Umar Gul has suffered to become a regular in the national team. He was recalled for the ODI series against New Zealand in the UAE in December 2014 in lieu of the World Cup. However Umar Gul was unable to make a big impact and missed out on a spot in the squad for the prestigious tournament.

With new bowlers being given chances it looks increasingly unlikely that Umar Gul has a chance of becoming a regular in thenational team again.

[Last updated on: 17 June 2015]