Umar Gul spoke to the members of the press about a variety of topics which include ball tampering, his own form and the upcoming series against Sri Lanka

PP Staff (October 1, 2011)

 

Umar Gul has not been seen in Pakistan colours in the recent past, as he was rested by the PCB for the Zimbabwe series. He's been keeping himself busy by plying his trade in the Twenty20 format this summer, including representing Sussex for the Friends Life T20 competition and back on home turf captaining the Peshawar Panthers in the Faysal Bank competitions. After their surprise win against the Karachi Dolphins, the Panthers were brushed aside by the strong Rawalpindi Rams and Umar Gul spoke to the press after being knocked out of the ongoing Faysal Bank T20 competition.

He spoke candidly about ball tampering and his views on the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka.

Umar Gul on Shoaib's confession of ball-tampering
"There have been a lot of allegations, but nothing has ever been proven. If you look at the Oval test match there were accusations [of ball tampering], but the umpires had no evidence, no cameras picked it up, but it's allegations are always laid against Pakistani bowlers. To the extent of ball tampering, bowlers from all nations do it. Nowadays we have advertising boards on the boundary and the wickets are dry, and as a result the ball does become rough, it's not the case that the bowlers do it."


Umar Gul on whether Shoaib Akhtar's claims adversely affect Pakistani cricket
"Quite a few bowlers are still doing it – during our series against England last year I saw [James] Anderson was doing it. Against Australia, when they [England] won the Ashes, everyone saw Broad use his shoe to scratch the ball. Every bowler does it. In my opinion, Shoaib bhai may also have done it – of course if he says so then he would have done it, but there are many methods of ball tampering. One is the illegal method, where it's done with the nail or something else, that's illegal. Nowadays, however many players throw the ball from the boundary onto the squares which are dry, the ball can be scratched by this, and in my opinion this has been made legal."


Umar Gul and his views on the legalisation of ball-tampering "No, we shouldn't legalise it. Cricket is it's own fun, and whatever advances are being made in cricket are eroding the enjoyment. Like the two balls in one-day cricket. I think if they leave cricket as it is now. It is an art, to see which bowler can reverse swing or not but we shouldn't legalise this [ball tampering]."


Umar Gul on Shoaib's claim Sachin Tendulkar was afraid to face him
"I've never seen it [Tendulkar fear Shoaib]. I've seen in matches, of course sometimes the wicket is difficult and there is no batsman that doesn't fear a fast bowler. And the way Shoaib [Akhtar] bhai bowled, in my opinion there is no better batsman than Brian Lara in the world and he himself said he [Shoaib Akhtar] is a very dangerous bowler and he got hit on the helmet with the ball. Every batsman gets scared, whether it be Shoaib Akhtar or someone else, they are always scared."


Umar Gul on Sri Lanka and his strategey for the upcoming tour.
"They are a tough opponent. They are one of the top three teams, and InshaAllah [God willing], if I receive an opportunity I will perform. I am working on my fitness and these matches [Faysal Bank T20] are quite helpful. The first class matches are about to start too. I think I'll play in those on the 6th [October] before the series, so it's a good opportunity for me to play a four-day match."


Umar Gul on his comeback after a long break away from international cricket.
"Fitness is difficult, but I'm a little light on match practice, but I've played a few matches, and I will play a four-day game and when I play with the team InshaAllah I will quickly come into form and the longer I bowl the more beneficial it will be."